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Probable cause found vs 3 men in turtles case
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Posted on Apr 28 2016
Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio yesterday found probable cause to warrant the filing of charges against three of four men who were caught allegedly in possession of endangered three green sea turtles.
At a preliminary hearing, Kim-Tenorio found probable cause to charge defendants Vicente Aldan Sablan, Anthony Pangelinan, and Jeffrey Iguel Teigita each with possession of an endangered/threatened species.
The offense carries a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and $5,000 fine.
Kim-Tenorio set the arraignment for May 2 at 9am.
The fourth defendant, Division of Fish and Wildlife conservation officer Alvin K. Fitial, posted a $10,000 property bond last week and waived his right for preliminary hearing.
At the hearing, assistant attorney general Heather Barcinas called to the witness stand DFW Conservation Inspector Erwin T. Flores, who testified the circumstances that led to the arrest of four defendants.
Fitial, 51, was arrested for allegedly taking one of three live endangered green sea turtles that were caught by four fishermen and allowed the group to get two turtles and leave. One man who was with the group was not charged.
Chief public defender Douglas Hartig is counsel for Sablan, while attorney Tiberius Mocanu is counsel for Pangelinan. Attorney Jordan Sundell is counsel for Jeffrey Iguel Teigita.
DFW Conservation Inspector Erwin T. Flores stated in his report that it was Commonwealth Ports Authority Police Sgt. Vincent Billy who discovered the group of fishermen in possession of three live endangered green sea turtles in a restricted area at Saipan seaport between 8:30pm and 9pm last Feb. 2.
Billy notified police and DFW about his discovery and Fitial responded to the scene.
