Man gets 5 years in prison for sex with minor

Aa 23-year-old cultural dancer who sexually abused a 14-year-old girl was convicted of sexual abuse in the second degree has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Glen Anthony Mafnas Ruben Jr. was sentenced Friday to the maximum of 15 years imprisonment but he is required to serve only the first five years without the possibility of parole or probation.

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho said the sentence shall be concurrent with Ruben’s five-year sentence in federal court. That means Ruben shall serve the five-year prison term within the five-year sentence imposed by the federal court.

The remaining 10 years may be imposed on Ruben for any violation of law or rules of the Office of Adult Probation.

Ruben was given credit for time served. He was required to register as a sex offender.

Camacho noted Ruben’s learning disability. Examination by psychological experts show he has an intellectual disability, meaning that even at age 23 in reality he has the mind of a child.

Camacho said Ruben lacks the intellectual ability and social skills to fully understand his actions and incorrectly thought it was appropriate to be in a romantic relationship with a 14-year-old minor, whom he met via the internet.

“Though not a legal excuse for a crime, defendant’s intellectual disability provides significant mitigation—and the court gives this mitigation great weight in imposing the defendant’s sentence,” the judge said.

Assistant attorney general Teri Tenorio, counsel for the government, recommended a 10-year prison sentence. Assistant public defender Cindy Nesbit, counsel for Ruben, recommended a sentence of five years imprisonment.

In July 2016, Ruben pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree as part of a plea deal.

Ruben, who was at the time 22 years old, had sex with his then-14-year-old girlfriend on Saipan on Dec. 25, 2015.

Camacho said that Ruben and the victim were in a relationship at the time (Romeo and Juliet).

In July 2016, Ruben also pleaded guilty in federal court to receipt of child pornography. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

According to the indictment filed in district court, between Dec. 13 and 26, 2015, Ruben used the internet to transfer obscene material to a 14-year-old child. Ruben allegedly used the internet to persuade and entice the child to engage in sex.