Ogumoro’s new counsel requests to continue sentencing

Attorney Daniel T. Guidotti, the new counsel for former Department of Public Safety deputy commissioner Ambrosio T. Ogumoro in his corruption case, yesterday requested the Superior Court to continue the sentencing for one week in order for him to adequately prepare for the hearing.

Ogumoro’s sentencing was set for tomorrow, Wednesday, at 1:30pm. Guidotti requested the court to reset the sentencing to March 30 at 1:30pm.

In his declaration, Guidotti said he became Ogumoro’s attorney of record on Friday after the court granted the defendant’s request to substitute his attorney, Edward Arriola Sr.

Guidotti did not explain why there was a request to substitute Arriola.

Guidotti said he reviewed over the weekend Ogumoro’s extensive file in preparation for the sentencing hearing.

The lawyer said based on discussions with his client, the size of the file, the nature and public import of this sentencing, he needs to do additional factual and legal research in order to provide adequate legal representation.

Guidotti also requested the court to reset the sentencing memoranda deadline to Friday, March 25.

Guidotti said special prosecutor George L. Hasselback does not object to their request for continuance.

Last Jan. 26, Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman announced his verdict finding Ogumoro guilty of seven of nine corruption charges for his role in the shielding of then-Attorney General Edward Buckingham from being served with penal summons in August 2012.

Wiseman found Ogumoro guilty of five counts of misconduct in public office, one count of obstructing justice: Interference with a law enforcement officer or witness, and one count of criminal coercion.

The judge, however, dismissed with prejudice the charges of conspiracy to commit obstructing justice: Interference with a law enforcement officer or witness, and misconduct in public office.

Dismiss with prejudice means the government cannot re-file the charges anymore.

A Superior Court jury also rendered a unanimous verdict finding Ogumoro guilty of conspiracy to commit theft of services and theft of services pertaining to the same incident of shielding of Buckingham.

Ogumoro is the last defendant in this case.

Last Jan. 13, former Commonwealth Ports Authority police chief Jordan Kosam entered a guilty plea, while the charges against his co-defendant, former CPA police captain John T. Rebuenog, were dismissed.

Kosam pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in public office. Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja sentenced Kosam to one-year imprisonment, but suspended the imposition of the sentence.

Naraja placed Kosam on three years of supervised release. Wiseman dismissed the charges against Rebuenog after Hasselback moved to drop the charges.

Former governor Benigno R. Fitial pleaded guilty, while Buckingham was convicted during a bench trial. Fitial and Buckingham did not serve prison term. The charges against Fitial’s former personal driver and bodyguard Jermaine Joseph W. Nekaifes were dismissed.