Man who had sex with minor girlfriend enters guilty plea

Glenn Mafnas Ruben Jr., a 23-year-old man facing separate criminal charges in federal and local courts, in connection to having sex last Christmas Day with his then-14-year-old girlfriend he just met through Facebook, entered a guilty plea in the Superior Court on Friday.

Police said the incident happened in the hallway area of the former fire station in San Roque.

Ruben, through counsel assistant public defender Tillman Clark, signed a plea deal with the government and pleaded guilty to the offense of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree.

Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho granted Ruben’s guilty plea and the plea agreement.

Camacho granted defendant’s request for a pre-sentence investigation report and set the sentencing hearing for Nov. 30, 2016 at 9am.

Assistant attorney general Shannon Foley appeared for the government.

After the hearing, Ruben was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections.

According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, on Dec. 25, 2015, Ruben, who was then 22 years old, engaged in sex with his then-14-year-old girlfriend on Saipan.

Camacho said Ruben and the victim were boyfriend and girlfriend at the time (Romeo and Juliet).

Camacho said the law makes it illegal for minors to have sex, even consensual sex when there is a three-year age difference.

The judge noted that there was no force or violence during the sexual contact.

Camacho disclosed that Ruben is set to plead guilty in federal court to a five-year sentence that will run concurrently with any sentence imposed in the Superior Court case.

Camacho said Ruben will serve his sentence at the Department of Corrections per the federal plea agreement.

AAG Foley represented in court that the victim and her family agree and support the plea agreement.

An indictment was also filed in federal court charging Ruben with one count each of transfer of obscene material to a minor, receipt of child pornography, and enticement of a minor.

The indictment also seeks forfeiture of any property that Ruben allegedly used in facilitating the offenses. Attorney Michael Dotts is the court-appointed counsel for Ruben.

According to the indictment, between Dec. 13 and 26, 2015, Ruben used the Internet to knowingly transfer obscene material to a 14-year-old child.

Ruben allegedly used the Internet to persuade and entice the child to engage in sexual activity.