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OAG drops criminal contempt vs habitual offender
A day before a bench trial last week, the Office of the Attorney General dropped the criminal contempt of court charge against habitual offender Mario Muña Reyes.
At the OAG’s request, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho dismissed the case against the 47-year-old Reyes without prejudice. This means the OAG may refile the case in the future.
“The court can only hear the case and charges filed by the government,” Camacho said.
Assistant attorney general Shannon R. Foley filed the motion to drop the case, saying that as a result of current plea negotiations involving Reyes, dismissal without prejudice is in the best interest of the government.
Reyes, through assistant public defender Michael Sato, did not object.
The OAG charged Reyes with criminal contempt after authorities found last July 26 that he was allegedly staying again with his common-law wife and their children despite a bail order prohibiting him from having direct or indirect contact with them.
Last March, police arrested Reyes for allegedly beating up his two children. Reyes was arrested on charges of child abuse, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace. He was released on bail.
In July 2011, Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja slapped Reyes with two years and six months in prison for violating probation conditions.
“Your prior convictions are overwhelming!” Naraja told Reyes.
Then-assistant attorney general Shelli Neal described Reyes as a batterer and violent man and that placing him on probation does not work.
