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Rookie cop admits he has alcohol, drug problem
Kaipat has pled guilty for beating up wife who is also a cop
Ramon Saures Kaipat, a rookie police officer who pleaded guilty for beating up his wife who is also a police officer, has admitted that he has an alcohol and substance abuse problem.
Kaipat, through counsel Rosemond B. Santos, said he is powerless over alcohol and other substances and that his personal and family life became unmanageable as a result.
Santos said defendant’s prior and present conviction for the same charge of assault and battery toward his wife is directly and proximately related to his alcohol and substance abuse.
Santos revealed Kaipat’s alcohol and substance abuse problem in defendant’s sentencing memorandum.
Sentencing will be on May 10, 2017.
Santos is recommending to the Superior Court to impose a sentence of 30 days of imprisonment with credit for time served, followed by an extended period of supervised release, along with other strict conditions of release.
The defense lawyer said strict conditions include the requirement for Kaipat to submit to extensive outpatient treatment for alcohol and substance abuse.
Santos said she believes the requested sentence and accompanying strict conditions of supervised release is not only “reasonable,” but also fits the crime and the offender.
“Moreover, the proposed sentence and conditions of release is consistent with the goal of meaningful rehabilitation and probable reduction in recidivism rate of incarcerated persons,” Santos said.
The defense counsel said Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho is aware of Kaipat’s prior conviction in 2011 for the same charge of assault and battery involving the same wife.
“This is the basis for the statutory sentencing mandate of 30 days,” she said.
At the sentencing hearing, Kaipat intends to address the court first with an apology to the court, to his immediate family that he betrayed, and to the community in general.
Santos said Kaipat recognizes that his conduct was wrong and unacceptable, and is deeply remorseful and regrets his poor judgment and actions that hurt his family and caused tremendous distress to the people he loves and cares about.
Santos said defendant is in serious need of alcohol and substance abuse treatment services, and has made the effort to seek help by registering with the Community Guidance Center.
At present, the lawyer noted, that the Department of Corrections has no treatment services available to its inmates to treat any disorders including alcohol and substance abuse.
Santos said Kaipat requires specialized disorder treatment that can only be achieved by allowing him to be on an extended supervised release as opposed to incarceration.
The 38-year-old Kaipat pleaded guilty to the offense of assault and battery, which carries a maximum sentence of one-year imprisonment.
Kaipat waived the pre-sentence investigation report.
Camacho accepted Kaipat’s guilty plea and the plea agreement.
Kaipat was originally charged with assault and battery, and disturbing the peace. The two offenses carry a total maximum sentence of one year and six months imprisonment.
The government recently dropped the disturbing the peace charge, leaving only the assault and battery charge.
According to the factual basis of the plea deal, Kaipat hit his wife several times on the head and body using his hands and knees on Jan. 13, 2017 on Saipan.
Police said officers responded to the Truong’s parking lot on Beach Road in Susupe at 11:18pm after receiving a call about a disturbance.
Police learned that the couple had just come from a party for patrol officers at a hotel. While the wife was talking with her sister on the cellphone, Kaipat allegedly grabbed the phone and her hair and beat her up.
