Saipan Tribune

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Car-burning suspect in WA for mental evaluation

Aziz Peter Mettao, the suspect in a car-burning case last year, had been admitted to the Federal Detention Center in Washington for a competency evaluation, according to U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona.

In her order issued Monday, Manglona said the psychiatric or psychological examination is intended to determine Mettao's competency to proceed with the case.

Mettao is a former disc jockey who is facing charges for allegedly burning a vehicle owned by Power 99.

Manglona suspended all proceedings in the case pending the result of Mettao's competency report.

The mental examination was ordered on Nov. 9, 2012, after it was learned that the suspect, prior to his arrest, was working with the Veterans Affairs Office in Guam to get mental and medical attention.

F. Matthew Smith, the court-appointed counsel for Mettao, asked the court to hold a hearing to determine whether the 27-year-old Mettao is competent to proceed with the trial.

Last Jan. 7, Manglona received a letter from federal detention warden Jack Fox, informing her about Mettao's admission on Dec. 19. The competency evaluation is expected to be completed within 30 days and Fox asked Manglona that this period commence on the date Mettao was admitted to the facility.

Fox proposes to submit a final report on Mettao's evaluation no later than Feb. 1, 2013.

“Because the defendant did not arrive at FDC SeaTac until Dec. 19, 2012, we are requesting the 30-day study begin on that date. If you concur, the study period will end on Jan. 18, 2013, with the final report being submitted to you no later than Feb. 1, 2013,” states Fox's letter to Manglona, who granted the warden's request on Monday.

Mettao is suspected of setting fire to a Hyundai Tucson owned by FM radio station Power 99 in western Garapan in the early morning of Sept. 10, 2012.

He allegedly used beer bottles that he filled with flammable liquid to burn and damage the vehicle. He was charged with malicious use of explosive materials, a felony that carries a maximum term of 10 years or more in prison.