Previous Story
Ex-convict gets 33 months for 2008 assault of jogger
|
Posted on Oct 27 2011
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Reporter
A notorious ex-convict who was arrested in 2008 for sexually assaulting and robbing a female jogger in San Jose pleaded guilty yesterday as part of a plea deal that would immediately set him free.
Alfred Obak, 35, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in the second degree and was sentenced to seven years in prison, all suspended except 33 months and 45 days.
He was credit, however, for the 33 months and 45 days that he has already served in jail, which means that Obak is now a free man again.
Superior Court associate judge David Wiseman placed Obak on probation for 10 years and ordered him to pay a $250 fine and $100 court assessment fee plus probation fee. He was also directed to register as a sex offender.
Wiseman also ordered Obak to pay restitution to the victim.
Obak, a Palauan citizen, agreed not to object to deportation if the U.S. government deems him removable. Obak reportedly has an outstanding arrest warrant in Palau and has numerous prior convictions, mostly for burglary cases in that country.
The Office of the Attorney General had charged Obak with sexual assault in the first degree, robbery, and assault and battery. Obak pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in the second degree. The remaining charges were dismissed.
In entering the plea bargain, Chief Prosecutor Michael Ernest said that this will spare the victim from going on the witness stand to testify.
Ernest also pointed out that Obak had been ordered deported “forthwith” from the CNMI by the Superior Court on Nov. 2, 2009.
According to police, the victim was walking south along the Beach Road pathway in San Jose near the Oleai Beach Bar & Grill around 7:10pm on Dec. 12, 2008, when Obak came from behind, pushed her to the ground, and touched her private parts. She fought back by kicking him and screaming.
Obak ran away but the now retired police sergeant Sylvan Rangamar found him at the CUC Pump Station No. 12 where he was arrested. Police said that Obak told the officer that he was drunk and high on marijuana when he committed the crime.
Obak has several criminal convictions on Saipan in 2005 and 2008. He was among a group that burglarized the Little Angels Daycare in Koblerville in 2007 and stole copper wires.
