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Trial of ex-Tinian cop facing charges of sexual abuse of minor starts today
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Posted on Dec 01 2013
A jury trial will commence today in the case against Melvin Ilo Monkeya, a former Tinian police officer who is facing charges of sexually abusing a then 14-year-old girl in 2008 inside the Tinian police station.
The trial of 42-year-old Monkeya will be conducted at the Superior Court Tinian. Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho will preside over the trial.
Assistant attorney general Chemere McField is prosecuting the case. Attorney Jennifer Dockter is court-appointed counsel for Monkeya.
On Friday, Camacho issued an order, finding that the Office of the Attorney General did not commit discovery violations concerning the government’s notice of intent to introduce evidence of defendant’s other sexual acts and other bad acts.
Camacho, however, is withholding ruling on the admissibility of other acts evidence until trial, so that the court can assess the need for such evidence beyond the testimony and evidence already offered.
In a separate order issued on Friday, Camacho denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss the charges based on the government’s failure to promptly turn over discovery materials.
The judge found that the government complied with all obligations concerning notice of intent to introduce evidence of other acts of defendant and related discovery.
Monkeya is charged with one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree.
According to the prosecution, Monkeya admittedly engaged in non-consensual sexual penetration of the minor girl at the Tinian police station in November 2008.The defendant is also accused of soliciting and attempting to coerce the victim into another similar assault in 2011.
In 2013, Monkeya allegedly confessed to several family members and boasted his ability to avoid criminal liability due to his employment as a police officer.
