Previous Story
Judge finds too lenient proposed jail term on habitual offender
Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho has rejected as too lenient a proposed nine-month prison term on Peter Koichi Lemei, a habitual offender who is facing a new theft case.
“The people of the CNMI deserve to have a safe community. There can be no justice without the appropriate punishment,” said Camacho in rejecting the proposed plea agreement.
Camacho noted that Lemei, 46, is a repeat offender and the allegation in this case is that he stole the purse and money in front of the alleged victim, who knew and identified him.
“The jail sentence under the proposed plea agreement fails to conform to the standards of this court and the CNMI community, and does not account for facts and factors for a careful and individualize sentence,” the judge said.
Court records show that Lemei used Koichi as his last name in the past.
Camacho said Lemei has multiple prior convictions for robbery, burglary, theft, and assault and battery.
In this case, the Office of the Attorney General charged the defendant with theft (felony), which carries a maximum sentence of not more than five years.
Under the proposed plea deal, Lemei would have pleaded guilty to theft as a misdemeanor. The proposed sentence is one-year imprisonment, all suspended except for nine months, with credit for time served.
In rejecting the proposed plea agreement, Camacho said the OAG does not give any reasonable explanation why the charges are reduced or that the plea terms serve the interest of justice.
