AGO charges man with attempted arson

Posted on Aug 12 2005

The Attorney General’s Office yesterday charged a man with attempted arson after being caught pouring gasoline around a house on Saipan.

Police recently arrested 27-year-old Hermany Palacios Santos and another man, Daniel Cepeda Repeki, for the attempted arson. Yesterday, though, the AGO only charged Santos.

A police affidavit submitted before the Superior Court showed Repeki’s alleged statement that Santos had planned to burn the house of Rankin Douglas on Saipan to get back at the family. Police said Santos had wanted to speak with the victim’s daughter but was denied. The attempted arson allegedly happened in the wee hours of Aug. 5.

Initially, police charged Santos with criminal mischief, criminal trespass, and disturbing the peace, besides attempted arson. Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo set a $25,000 bail on Santos.

Santos appeared in court yesterday for a preliminary hearing. Associate Judge Ramona Manglona allowed Santos to adequately prepare his defense and reset the hearing on Monday. Manglona also reset Santos’ arraignment from Aug. 15 to Aug. 22. (John Ravelo)

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