Previous Story
Opposition to case reassigment denied
Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho has denied the Office of the Public Defender’s opposition to having him handle the case of Allan Apatang Taitano, a former Rota liaison employee who is facing charges of attempting to sexually assault his then-21-year-old godson.
Camacho cited Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja’s order on Wednesday, reassigning Taitano’s case to Camacho due to Associate Judge David A. Wiseman’s recusal.
Camacho also cited Wiseman’s recusal due to off-island training during the same week as the trial.
The judge noted that Wiseman’s recusal was also faxed to Office of the Public Defender.
Taitano’s trial will proceed on Oct. 27, 2014.
Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig, counsel for the 44-year-old Taitano, said Camacho issued an order on Tuesday, setting the case for a status conference.
Hartig said Camacho’s order states that the case had been reassigned to him.
In his opposition to case reassignment, Hartig said the only person with the authority to reassign a case is the presiding judge. Hartig said the order does not indicate that Naraja re-assigned the case, nor is there an order of reassignment, nor any reason given.
Hartig requested that the case be reassigned back to Wiseman.
Police arrested Taitano in April 2013 in Dandan for allegedly attempting to sexually assault his godson inside a vehicle in an open field in As Lito. The victim allegedly managed to run away and hide in the jungle for several hours.
Taitano pleaded not guilty.
