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Man who stole HSEM’s TVs gets 9-month sentence
A man accused of stealing four federally funded 42-inch LG flat screen TVs from the Emergency Operation Center on Capital Hill has pleaded guilty and was slapped with a nine-month prison term.
Joseph Olaitiman Borja Jr., 34, pleaded guilty to the theft charge last week as part of a plea deal.
Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman sentenced Borja to three years imprisonment, all suspended except for nine months, with credit for time served. He has been in jail since Dec. 3, 2014, and is expected to be released on Sept. 3, 2015.
After completing the prison term, Borja will be placed on supervised probation for five years. He was ordered to pay $4,200 in restitution to the CNMI Homeland Security, $100 fine, $100 court assessment fee, plus probation fee.
Borja was required to perform 200 hours of community service, write a letter of apology to the CNMI Homeland Security, and complete any counseling recommended by the Community Guidance Center.
Assistant attorney general Heather Barcinas appeared for the government. Attorney Joseph Horey served as court-appointed counsel for Borja.
Borja stole four 42-inch LG flat screen TVs from the CNMI Homeland Security office on June 7, 2014.
Police detective Catherine B. Pangelinan stated in her report that a police officer responded to the Homeland Security office on July 15, 2014, after CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management special assistant Marvin K. Seman reported that four TVs worth a total of $5,600 had been stolen from the Emergency Operation Center.
A surveillance camera led to the arrest of Borja and his girlfriend, Martina Castro, who was then a radio dispatcher at Homeland Security. It is not clear yet whether the case against Castro is pending.
