Previous Story
US govt asks for Quitugua’s continued detention
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has moved for the detention of Daniel M. Quitugua pending his trial.
Quitugua has been indicted over the alleged illegal guns and ammunitions he left behind when he ran away from police officers who stopped him for a traffic violation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth R. Backe stated that this case is eligible for a detention hearing because it involves a felony involving possession or use of a firearm or destructive device.
Backe said the court should detain Quitugua because “there exists no condition, or combination of conditions, of release that will reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community.”
The indictment charged Quitugua with one count of felon in possession of firearm.
According to the indictment, Quitugua was found in possession of several guns and bullets on May 23, 2014. Specifically, he is accused of possessing a Sig Sauer model P226 9mm pistol; one Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver; 90 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition; 50 rounds of .38 caliber ammunition; and 62 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Quitugua was convicted in federal court in 2005 for armed robbery of a poker arcade in 2004. He was slapped with a 120-month prison term followed by a five-year supervised release. Quitugua’s supervised release began on Jan. 14, 2013.
At a recent preliminary hearing in Superior Court, Associate Judge Joseph Camacho found probable cause to charge Quitugua with resisting arrest and ordered him to answer that count.
The Office of the Attorney General did not charge Quitugua with illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions.
Police arrested Quitugua for allegedly speeding and escaping from police officers, leaving behind a bag that contained three illegal guns and bullets near the Northern Marianas College on May 23, 2014.
Following his arrest, the U.S. Probation Office sought to have his probation revoked.
U.S. probation officer Gregory F. Arriola said that Quitugua admitted that he had used “ice” on May 14, 2014, and on March 5, April 28, May 20, and June 7, all in 2013.
Quitugua is being detained at the Department of Corrections because of pending charges in local court.
