Man slapped with 9-month term for continued use of ‘ice’

A man on federal probation who was warned of immediate detention by the federal court in 2013 for using methamphetamine or “ice” was slapped Tuesday with a nine-month prison term for continued use of “ice.”

U.S. District Court for the NMI Senior judge Alex Munson revoked Roque Sablan Norita’s supervised release after he admitted his continued use of “ice” and failure to report for drug testing.

Munson recommended to the Bureau of Prisons that Norita be placed in a facility that offers both psychological counseling and drug treatment programs.

Upon Norita’s release from prison, he will be placed on 62 months of supervised release.

During the supervised release, he will be required to participate in a substance abuse treatment program, and prohibited from using controlled substance and possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapons. He is not allowed excessive use of alcohol and is prohibited from using poker machines or any form of gambling device.

Bruce Berline, the court-appointed counsel for Norita, recommended a sentence of six months of home detention so he can continue his employment, or in the alternative a four-month imprisonment.

According to U.S. Probation Officer Gregory F. Arriola, Norita violated his probation by using “ice” on Nov. 16 and 19, 2014, and on Dec. 10, 2014.

Arriola said the defendant attempted to substitute his urine specimen during a random drug test on Dec. 4, 2014, failed to report for drug testing on Dec. 4, 2014, and failed to serve three months of home detention under the location monitoring program.

Arriola said Norita also failed to appear for drug testing on Dec. 18, 20, 28, 30, 2014 and Jan. 3, 2015.

The probation officer disclosed that before submitting to a drug test last Monday, Norita admitted in writing that he used “ice” last Sunday.

When asked why he was not reporting for drug testing, Norita replied that he was tired of submitting to drug tests.

In August 2013, Norita admitted to the allegations that he used “ice” again and apologized to the court, prosecution, and U.S. Probation Office.

Chief Judge Ramona Manglona then denied the U.S. Probation’s Office petition to revoke Norita’s probation. She, however, warned the defendant that he would be subject to immediate detention if he violates his supervised release conditions again.

In July 2010, the federal court slapped Norita with a 30-month jail term for his conviction of trafficking methamphetamine or “ice” and illegal possession of guns.

Norita was placed on six years of supervised release after completing his sentence. He began his supervised release on Nov. 21, 2011.