$75K bail for Tinian Mayor’s ground maintenance staff

The NMI Superior Court yesterday imposed a $75,000 cash bail on a man from Tinian allegedly involved in drug distribution.

Following his arrest earlier that day, 47-year-old Dean Mendiola Evangelista stood before Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho for his bail hearing where he faced charges of possession of controlled substances, attempts and conspiracies, and trafficking.

Evangelista works for the Tinian Mayor’s Office as ground maintenance staff.

During the bail hearing, Evangelista’s arrest warrant cash bail was maintained at $75,000, and a preliminary hearing set for Nov. 7 at 10am. He is also ordered to appear for his arraignment on Nov 14 at 10am. Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds is to represent the CNMI government and public defense attorney Emily Thomsen was appointed to represent Evangelista. Until his next appearance in court, Evangelista was remanded back to DOC custody.

According to court documents, officers reported Evangelista distributing methamphetamine, or “ice,” in an investigation involving multiple controlled buys.

According to DPS reports, Evangelista first appeared on their radar in late 2022 when a cooperative defendant disclosed ongoing meth purchases from him. On Dec. 21, 2022, DPS arranged a controlled buy, with cooperative defendant contacting Evangelista to purchase $100 worth of methamphetamine at a designated location. Surveillance teams reported observing Evangelista meeting the cooperative defendant and completing a quick handoff, after which the cooperative defendant turned over a plastic straw containing a crystal-like substance. Field tests later confirmed the presence of meth.

Almost a year later, on Nov, 7, 2023, the cooperative defendant again came forward, citing further drug purchases from Evangelista. DPS conducted a second controlled buy under similar conditions. This time, the cooperative defendant obtained $50 worth of methamphetamine in another brief exchange with Evangelista, who promptly left the scene. Officers recovered a second sample, which later tested positive.

Within a day, the cooperative defendant was back, claiming Evangelista was ready for another transaction. On Nov. 8, 2023, around 1am., DPS surveillance teams documented an exchange between the cooperative defendant and a third party believed to be acting on Evangelista’s behalf. The intermediary arrived on a motorcycle, completed the exchange, and quickly departed. This third sample also confirmed the presence of methamphetamine upon testing.

Following these documented buys, DPS secured a search warrant for Evangelista’s vehicle, which they executed on June 15, 2024. During the search, officers discovered multiple items associated with meth use, including a small Ziplock bag, a clear straw, and a glass pipe—all testing positive for methamphetamine, weighing approximately 2.0 grams in total.

Initially, Evangelista expressed willingness to cooperate with DPS in their ongoing drug investigations. However, as of the date of the report, DPS officials note that Evangelista has not followed up on his commitment.

An arrest warrant was issued for him on Oct. 8, 2024, and executed yesterday morning.