Notorious habitual offender is arrested again

Ramon Cabrera Blas, a 56-year-old notorious habitual offender, was arrested again on Monday for allegedly burglarizing an apartment complex in San Vicente and stealing a couple’s jewelry, money, and other items worth $22,875.

Blas was arrested for burglary, theft, and disturbing the peace. At yesterday’s hearing, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho set his bail at $10,000 cash. Preliminary hearing will be on Dec. 2 at 1:30pm.

Police detective Catherine B. Pangelinan stated in her report that Blas first burglarized the couple’s apartment unit on Aug. 21, and then again on Nov. 9. The apartment unit is reportedly owned by retired Judge Juan T. Lizama

Pangelinan disclosed that Blas was also tagged as the suspect in a theft case that occurred at Mariana Resort and Spa in Marpi on Nov. 6.

Pangelinan said the couple positively identified Blas in a photo line-up. She said the female victim started crying and shaking and became angry upon seeing Blas’ photo.

Pangelinan said that, according to the female victim, she was inside her apartment on Aug. 21 at 1:13pm when she noticed a man outside on the balcony walking toward their sliding door. The victim said she asked the suspect what he was doing in their balcony and told him to leave several times.

The couple said there is no way to enter the couple’s balcony in the back because the gate is closed. The balcony is about 10 to 15 feet high, adjacent to a retaining wall.

The man, who was later identified as Blas, stated he wants to drink water so the victim gave him water. Blas then climbed the retaining wall from the balcony out to the road. Apparently, he managed to climb the wall by stepping over a concrete flower vase.

The male victim said on that same day, when he came home for lunch, he saw Blas running across the street from their apartment toward the jungle.

The victim said he approached Blas and asked him what he was doing in their apartment. The suspect replied he was picking noni in the jungle.

Last Nov. 9, when the couple arrived at the apartment, the female victim saw Blas walking up the stairs that led to their entrance.

Pangelinan said that during her interviews at Mariana Resort last Nov. 15 about a theft case, one of the employees revealed that the person who committed the offense was Blas.

Pangelinan said the description given to her by the employee matched the description given to her by the couple.

That same day, Pangelinan said she visited Blas’ house in San Vicente, but the suspect refused to come out. On Nov. 17, Pangelinan met with Blas at the Probation Office’s conference room for an interview but the suspect refused to give a statement and asked for a lawyer. Blas, however, agreed to have his photo taken.

Police later executed a search warrant at Blas’ residence. It was not clear yet whether the couple’s jewelry and other items have been recovered.

In February 2012, Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman rejected a plea agreement that proposed a 90-day prison term for Blas over a robbery case at the Kingfisher golf course in Talofofo in October 2011.

In rejecting the plea deal, Wiseman noted that Blas has had a multitude of charges filed against him over a 30-year period, resulting in no less than 13 criminal convictions.

“His release from jail only results in committing more crimes and continually placing members of our society in danger,” Wiseman said.