Cop in Red Jeep scandal admitted to lying to police; trial on hold as pregnant defendant may have lost her child

The jury trial against Nakita Aguon on allegations she was driving drunk when her red Jeep destroyed Jerry Kitchen in February 2021 is on hold after her doctor failed to detect her baby’s heartbeat. The heartbreaking news followed a grueling week of trial, where her once-friend and co-0ccupant in the Jeep, Guam Police officer Joneen Terlaje, spent days on the witness stand for the prosecution.

Ms. Aguon has maintained her innocence. The defense’s theory of the case is that Ms. Aguon was not the driver, and that Guam Police Department officers conspired to cover up the true facts of the case and set up Aguon as the patsy.

In fact, a report that has surfaced since Ms. Terlaje’s witness testimony confirms her admission to secondary police investigators that she lied to Guam Highway Patrol investigators about the evening’s events.

According to the Internal Affairs Section Case No. 21-025 Unbecoming Conduct report, which details Ms. Terlaje’s conduct that evening:

”On June 26, 2021, PO1 Terlaje appeared before Chief of Police Stephen C. Ignacio and confessed to providing false information Guam Highway Patrol investigators regarding having knowledge of Nakita Aguon consuming alcohol the night of the incident under investigation. PO1 Terlaje admitted that her lapse in judgment is something she regrets and takes responsibility for her actions.”

Not once on the witness stand did Ms. Terlaje make this admission, despite questions under direct examination by prosecutor Grant Olan and rigorous cross examination by defense attorney David Lujan.

Mr. Olan has this same report.

The case against Ms. Aguon is a holdover case from the previous Leevin Camacho administration.

Public scrutiny of the case has rested more so on suspicion of a police cover up than of the traffic and property crimes themselves.

Despite the report’s confirmation of the false statements to police officers and other validations about Ms. Terlaje’s inebriated state the night of the crash, Ms. Terlaje was given only a two-week suspension from work in 2021 for a violation of only one of 14 possible infractions upon which a police officer may be penalized: “Other misconduct not specifically listed.”

Among the other causes for adverse action is “Refusal to take and subscribe to any  oath of affirmation which is required by law in connection with employment.”

Ms. Terlaje, in a previous interview according to a police report, also refused to continue answering questions related to her conduct.

The IA report continuously reprimanded Ms. Terlaje for being a dishonest cop. Excerpts:

”PO1 Terlaje did not keep her private life unsullied as an example to all and failed to be honest in thought and deed in both her personal and professional life when she knowingly gave false information to Guam Highway Patrol Investigator M.D.M. Reyes about whether Nakita Aguon consumed alcohol on the night and morning of February 24-25, 2021,” the report states.

”PO1 Terlaje failed to recognize her badge and a symbol of public faith and public trust when she allowed an inebriated person to operate a motor vehicle and failed to provide this vital information to police when questioned about the crash and contributing factor to the cause of the crash and by doing so committed acts and omitted information required of her to report to police constituting violations of the rules, regulations of the Guam Police Department and the Government of Guam,” the report also states.

”PO1 Terlaje dishonesty during her interview with the Guam Highway Patrol Division were not in accordance with the ethical standards of conduct for a police officer of the Guam Police Department or an employee of the Government of Guam,” the report further states.

Despite the scathing report, Mr. Ignacio only suspended the politically-connected police officer. Ms. Terlaje remains a GPD officer and employee of the government of Guam.

The trial may resume next week, depending on the defendant’s health.