Prosecute others too

I was disheartened to hear about the criminal case against Joey Arriola on sex abuse charges. He is a very talented, promising young attorney. He is innocent, until proven guilty. Whether the government can ever prove the allegations remains to be seen.

What is clear, however, is that the Attorney General’s Office does not and has not prosecuted other similarly situated men. The Attorney General’s Office commented that it is treating the case of Joey Arriola the same as any other like-case referred to the AG’s office. The exact comment of the Assistant Attorney General used the formalities of the English language to give an impression of fairness and did not step over the line into falsehood; but it certainly omitted a lot of information.

The criminal justice system doesn’t start at the Attorney General’s Office. It involves the entire executive branch and government. So, the AG’s saying that all cases in the AG’s Office are considered the same doesn’t say the system is fair.

Joey Arriola is accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl. He denies the allegation. Other girls that age and younger have also had sex. Who is being prosecuted in these cases?

In fact, in some situations there can be no doubt that there was sexual contact because the girls have become young teen-age mothers; girls under the age of 16 have given birth to babies in the Commonwealth. Commonwealth law prohibits sex with most minors; the age of sexual consent is 16. The CHC is a mandated reporter, required by CNMI law to report suspected abuse to the Division of Youth Services. When a girl gives birth before she is 16 years old, there’s obviously been a crime committed — statutory rape or sexual abuse of a minor. How many of these young teen births are reported as suspected child abuse? How many has DYS investigated and referred for prosecution? I know of cases where girls at Hopwood Junior High have had babies, but no one is prosecuting the fathers for their criminal sexual contact with a minor.

I’ve seen the grim reality of these very young teen girls having to face a life with a baby. Why doesn’t the AG’s office, with CHC and DYS, do something to prosecute in all cases, especially these obvious ones? Why hide behind words that the AG handles cases in its office without discrimination and imply vigorous prosecution no matter who the defendant is, when in fact most crimes are not even investigated? You’re all part of the same system. Why not work together to do the job and get it done right.

Joey Arriola has already played a role affecting the AG’s office. Maybe this case is another opportunity. Although this case is surely not one that he wants in the circumstances given, it does highlight the discriminatory use of the criminal justice system in the CNMI.

I abhor sexual abuse of minors. I want vigorous prosecution of such crimes. And I want it in a fair and comprehensive system. Don’t we all?

I have no knowledge and no opinion on whether Attorney Arriola will be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. I do have an opinion on the system–it needs to be reformed.

Name withheld upon request