Man gets 9-day prison term for hitting rear of car with his truck

Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja Tuesday slapped a nine-day prison term on Brett Somorang Seman, a 27-year-old man who hit with his pickup truck the rear of a car that had his girlfriend onboard.

Seman pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and disturbing the peace.

Naraja accepted Seman’s guilty plea and sentenced him to one-year imprisonment, all suspended except for nine days.

The defendant was given credit for nine days of time served. It means he will no longer serve prison term.

Seman was placed on supervised probation for two years and required to pay $200 in probation fee and $25 in court costs.

Seman was ordered to pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $4,450.85 before the expiration of his probationary period.

In the alternative, the defendant, who is a car mechanic, can make arrangements to fully repair the victim’s car with prior approval from the victim.

According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, on Sept. 3, 2015, on Saipan, Seman repeatedly used his vehicle to strike a vehicle belonging to Anthony Benavente, causing significant damage to the victim’s vehicle.

On the same day, Seman aggressively followed a vehicle with his girlfriend onboard, causing her to be afraid.

Assistant public defender Tillman Clark served as counsel for Seman. Assistant attorney general Shannon R. Foley appeared for the government.

According to a police report, Police Sgt. Edward Ayuyu was heading east toward Dandan along Flame Tree Road last Sept. 3 at 3:59am when he saw two vehicles on the opposite lane.

Ayuyu observed a gray car had damage on the rear bumper, which was dragging on the road.

A white Mazda pickup truck, being driven by Seman, had no headlights and was too close to the car.

Ayuyu pursued the two vehicles. The car stopped and was overtaken by the truck. Seman, who was the driver of the truck, yelled at Ayuyu to check the car because, according to him, it hit his truck.

The car, a Nissan Maxima, had damage on the rear and bumper. The truck, a Mazda, had minor damage on the front, police said.

Police learned that Seman had chased and hit the rear of the car where his girlfriend took a ride.

Apparently she asked the owner of the car to drop her off at her house because Seman was too drunk.