Prosecution opposes moving trial again, this time to August

Ralph DLG Torres

The Office of the Attorney General, which is prosecuting former governor Ralph DLG Torres in an ongoing criminal case, has opposed another continuance for the jury trial that has already been pushed back several times now.

In an eight-page motion opposing the defense’s request for another continuance, OAG Chief Solicitor Robert Glass Jr. essentially said that Torres has four lawyers to represent him and the conflict of schedule of one is not enough reason for a continuance.

“Torres is currently represented by attorneys Viola Alepuyo, Anthony Aguon, Victorino Torres, and Matthew J. Holley, and any of them should be able to handle the trial on Feb. 13, 2023,” said Glass.

Glass filed the motion after one of Torres’ lawyers, Victorino Torres, requested Superior Court judge pro tem Alberto Tolentino to move the trial from February to August because of his trial schedule conflict.

Glass argued that the defendant provides no reason why one of his other three lawyers cannot be present or represent him at the February trial.

“The availability of the parties is not a determinate factor. The Commonwealth has announced it will be ready whenever the court schedules trial, including the now scheduled Feb. 13, 2023, date. Defendant has only announced that one of his four chosen counsel will not be available. Thus, it appears the defendant will have at least three chosen attorneys available to represent him at the Feb. 13, 2023, trial,” he said.

“What is clear at this moment is that defendant has three other chosen counsel who have not presented any conflict with the date or stated such at the hearing. The purpose of the continuance is not necessary as defendant has three other chosen counsel to represent him,” Glass added.

He said the Commonwealth would be inconvenienced by moving the trial date again.

“Many of the witnesses are currently appointed by the Torres administration. It is highly likely that many of these individuals will not be employed by the Commonwealth government when a new administration begins. Some of the witnesses have already tendered their resignations. This is inconvenient for the Commonwealth to not have some witnesses available because of changes in circumstances and the longer the delay until trial, the more likely important witnesses will become unavailable,” he said.

In addition, Glass argued that the court would also be inconvenienced by another continuance.

“The trial is being overseen by a visiting judge who must take time away from his own docket in order to assist the NMI Superior Court. …Because the judge is visiting, he must use one of the other judge’s courtrooms, which means that that judge cannot use it during the time set for trial. With multiple moving pieces for the court, it is clear the court would be inconvenienced by moving the trial date,” Glass said.

Back in April 2022, the AG’s office filed a criminal case against Torres, alleging 12 counts of misconduct in public office and one count of theft relating to the issuance of airline tickets for business class, first class, or other premium class travel for himself and/or Diann T. Torres, his wife.