Manglona removes community service order vs sex offender

The federal court yesterday granted the U.S. Probation Office’s recommendation that the condition ordering community work service be removed from the judgment against probationer Edwin P. Blas because he is a sex offender.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona modified the judgment to remove the community service considering that Blas did not oppose it.

U.S. Probation Officer Gregory F. Arriola in his report on Monday informed the court that Blas has a previous local conviction for a sex offense, requiring him to maintain his registration on the Department of Public Safety’s Sex Offender Registry.

Arriola said due to Blas’ status as a sex offender, the U.S. Probation Office’s community service partners cannot be expected to supervise him considering the liability should anything happen while he is performing his service.

The probation officer said this issue has been discussed with the probationer and that he understands the position of the U.S. Probation Office and agrees with the recommendation that such condition be removed.

Arriola also disclosed that Blas has not complied with some conditions of supervision by using alcohol on Jan. 5, 2016, and for late submission of monthly supervision report.

Arriola said the probationer reported to the U.S. Probation Office on Jan. 6, 2016, to submit his monthly supervision report.

When informed that the report was late, Blas explained that he was having transportation issues.

Arriola said the breathalyzer test in that visit showed a blood concentration of 0.54 and when confronted with the results, Blas admitted he had consumed six cans of beer the previous night.

Arriola said the probationer is aware that he is prohibited from consuming alcohol because his previous revocation of supervised release was related to alcohol use.

Due to his admission, Blas was instructed to report daily to the U.S. Probation Office for breathalyzer testing.

Arriola said before leaving the U.S. Probation Office, Blas submitted to a drug test and tested negative for use of illegal drugs.

On supervision compliance, the probationer paid off his $200 special assessment fee in 2001 and submitted to DNA collection in May 2010.

Blas is currently participating in substance abuse treatment and testing. His alcohol testing was reduced to thrice a week because of his continuing compliance to probation officer’s instructions.

Arriola said he submitted the report to court for informational purposes and that no action is being requested at this time.

He said Blas will be monitored closely.

In 1999, the District Court sentenced Blas to 180 months in jail for hostage taking and for felon in possession of ammunition.

In July 2013, he completed his prison term and his five-year supervised release then commenced.

In April 2014, Blas’ supervised release conditions were modified to include that he refrains from the use of alcoholic beverages.

In October 2014, the court revoked his supervised release for eight months due to continued alcohol use. He was then placed back on 52 months of supervised release.