August 3, 2025

Man found guilty of utility theft

A man charged with utility theft was found guilty yesterday during Day 2 of his bench trial at the Guma Hustisia in Susupe.

John Anthony M. Deleon Guerrero appeared before Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho on Wednesday, July 31, and Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in regards to allegations of him tampering with a Commonwealth Utilities Corp. water meter.

Deleon Guerrero faced charges of theft of utility services, and was represented by assistant public defender Molly Dennert, with Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig also at the defense table. Assistant attorney general Frances Demapan prosecuted the case for the government.

During Day 1 of the trial, prosecution called several witnesses, including police officer Elijah Villar, CUC meter reader Daniel James L. Cruz, DPS Crime Scene technician Sgt. Daniel Kintol, DPS evidence custodian Sgt. Therese Manglona, CUC safety technician Delfin Camacho, and CUC meter reader Maximo Attao Jr.

Delfin Camacho testified that he responded to the tampering incident on Dec. 13, 2023, in Chinatown. “I saw a ‘straight pipe’ with a spider valve, tampered meter—basically the residence is receiving unmetered water,” he stated. Camacho also recounted his interview with Deleon Guerrero, who admitted to replacing the broken meter for restroom and water tank use.

Camacho further testified that upon returning to the same residence on Jan. 13, 2024, he observed another “straight pipe with a ball valve,” describing it as a crude temporary connection. He secured the water meter box cover and reported the incident to DPS.

In his testimony, Attao emphasized the uniqueness of CUC’s spider valves and the special key needed to open the main water line. “You cannot buy a spider valve at any hardware store,” Attao noted, adding that there are other tampering cases involving these specific valves.

According to the prosecution, Deleon Guerrero “tampered with CUC’s water meter…to obtain utility services without payment,” with the value of the service less than $250. This violation of 6 CMC 1609 carries a maximum sentence of one year imprisonment, a $1,000 fine, or both.

On Day 2, prosecution brought CUC foreman Glenn Dikito and CUC fiscal analyst Shani Cabrera.

Dikito, one of the foremen who had been the one to disable the connection after the discovery, was presented with the aforementioned “spider and ball valve” and when asked if CUC normally used the connection, he said no. He also said that the spider valve was not regularly available in stores on Saipan and was “totally illegal.”

Dikito, he added that a normal meter used would be able to detect the amount of water usage, and said of the spider “this will not.”

Through the witness’ testimony, prosecution pointed out that although the valve was not regularly available, once a person had it the process was something a person with basic knowledge of plumbing could install.

Cabrera was questioned about Deleon Guerrero’s accounts and it was known that it wasn’t an account under Deleon Guerrero’s name but under the name of a relative. According to Cabrera and presented records, there had been pending payments, but a peer had settled accounts in March, but due to protocol, in case of tampering, the reconnection of the utility didn’t happen until the process was approved by DPS and the Office of the Attorney General.

Defense made an oral motion for judgment of acquittal. After both parties made arguments, the court denied the defendant’s motion for judgment of acquittal.

The court found Deleon Guerrero guilty of the count of theft of utility services and based on the matters adduced, a sentencing hearing was scheduled for Oct. 16, 2024 at 10am in Camacho’s courtroom.

John Deleon Guerrero walks to his bail hearing after a short recess yesterday at the Superior Court in Susupe.

-CHRYSTAL MARINO

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