Superior Court of Guam Magistrate Judge Benjamin Sison’s releases of criminal defendants pending trial are stacking the criminal justice system with more new criminal cases from the people he’s been releasing.
According to the latest tracking report by Attorney General Douglas Moylan, in the past months, 27 criminal defendants released back into the public pending their trials allegedly committed violations of law or release, with nine new criminal cases.
“Of the 27 persons in the attached report, [nine] of the defendants were charged with another crime (drug possession, firearms violations, assaulting a peace officer, theft, burglary, child abuse, family violence) arguably creating more crime victims,” the tracking report from the Office of the Attorney General of Guam states. “Defendants are presumed innocent. GPD officers arrest based on probable cause. We believe the release conditions are not effectively stopping more crimes from occurring from these persons. We oppose release on ‘performance bonds’ since they require no money, don’t get paid, and cost too much attorney time to pursue. The problem of catch & release resulting in more crime & crime victims continues.”
According to the OAG report, of the 27 violations committed the past month by defendants released by judges, 15 were released by Judge Sison, nine by Judge Jonathan Quan, and one each by Judges Vernon Perez, John Terlaje, Alberto Tolentino.
“Senators must do more to help curb Guam’s crime problem,” a statement from the OAG reads. “Many offenders are repeat criminals, and legislation should be passed that helps us keep you safer.”
The table of tracking violations follows:
1 Comments
Alan San Nicolas
07/04/2023 at 6:27 AM
Hayi I hues ? I petsona ni gaigi gi kotte put seno I petsona ni gaigi gi ofisina I fiskat (AG) ? ESTA DESPUES 👍 AFAÑELOS