Man turns self in for robbery

A man who was questioned by police last Friday for his role in the robbery of a tourist and her young daughter turned himself in to authorities by tipping them off on his location where he could turn himself in.

Carl Steven Aldan, 23, is charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery after he and a friend allegedly robbed a tourist and her daughter who were walking along Plumeria Avenue in Garapan last week.

During his bail hearing yesterday, Aldan’s lawyer, assistant public defender Jean Pierre Nogues, argued that his bail be reduced from the initial $100,000 to $15,000 because he proved that he is not a flight risk since he called the police himself to inform them of his location.

Nogues also argued that Aldan has a 5-month-old daughter currently in the Commonwealth Health Center, so he has strong motive to remain on the island.

Carl Steven Aldan

Chief prosecutor Heather Barcinas of the Office of the Attorney General argued that Aldan had told his co-defendant, Wilson Kenneth Caintoy Celeste, that he would use the money to return to the Philippines.

Barcinas said she does not oppose reducing the bail amount but asked the court that, if the bail were to be reduced, to have it reduced to $20,000, which Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo later granted.

Govendo scheduled Aldan’s preliminary hearing for July 29 at 2:30pm; arraignment is on Aug. 5 at 9am.

Govendo also ordered Aldan to stay away from his co-defendant, Celeste, from the victims of the case, from all airports and seaports, and to surrender his passport if he has one.

According to court information, Department of Public Safety officers responded to a report of a robbery on July 14 at around 7:22pm along Plumeria Avenue, Garapan. The victim was a tourist and her young daughter who said she was robbed by a man who ran out from a red Nissan Sentra and grabbed her purse while she and her daughter were walking.

Items stolen include credit card, passports, a Hermes watch, and over $1,000.

The red Nissan Sentra was found at a residence in Gualo Rai on July 18 and police later learned that the vehicle’s operator was Celeste.

Upon interviewing Celeste, police learned that Aldan was the one who planned the robbery and needed a ride.

Aldan also confessed to the robbery after allegedly calling the police to inform them that he was at CHC.