Ruben also pleads guilty in federal court to receipt of child porn

Glenn Anthony Mafnas Ruben Jr., a 23-year-old man who recently entered a guilty plea in Superior Court in connection with having sex with his then-14-year-old girlfriend, also pleaded guilty in federal court last week.

Ruben pleaded guilty to the charge of receipt of child pornography.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona accepted Ruben’s guilty plea and set the sentencing for Nov. 9, 2016.

Manglona vacated the jury trial set for Aug. 23, 2016.

After the hearing, Ruben was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal.

Assistant U.S. attorney James Benedetto, counsel for the U.S. government, stated that the agreement for transfer of primary jurisdiction between the Bureau of Prisons and the CNMI had been finalized and has now been forwarded for the signature of the appropriate official in the Bureau of Prisons and then this will be forwarded to Attorney General Edward Manibusan for his signature.

The indictment charged Ruben with transfer of obscene material to a minor, receipt of child pornography, and enticement of a minor.

The indictment also seeks forfeiture of any property that Ruben allegedly used in facilitating the offenses. Attorney Michael Dotts is the court-appointed counsel for Ruben.

According to the indictment, between Dec. 13 and 26, 2015, Ruben used the Internet to knowingly transfer obscene material to a 14-year-old child. Ruben allegedly used the Internet to persuade and entice the child to engage in sexual activity.

Ruben recently entered a guilty plea in Superior Court.

Police said the incident happened in the hallway area of the former fire station in San Roque.

In the Superior Court case, Ruben, through counsel assistant public defender Tillman Clark, signed a plea deal with the government and pleaded guilty to the offense of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree.

Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho granted Ruben’s guilty plea and the plea agreement.

Camacho set the sentencing hearing for Nov. 30, 2016 at 9am.

After the hearing, Ruben was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections.

According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, on Dec. 25, 2015, Ruben, who was then 22 years old, engaged in sex with his then-14-year-old girlfriend on Saipan. He met her through Facebook.

Camacho said Ruben and the victim were boyfriend and girlfriend at the time (Romeo and Juliet).

Camacho then disclosed that Ruben is set to plead guilty in federal court to a five-year sentence that will run concurrently with any sentence imposed in the Superior Court case.

Camacho said Ruben will serve his sentence at the Department of Corrections per the federal plea agreement.