Villanueva bench trial to begin Nov. 6

The Superior Court granted the prosecution’s request to alter the trial date of Shayne Blanco Villanueva during a motion hearing yesterday with Presiding Judge Roberto Naraja resetting the trial’s start to Nov. 6, 2024.

Villanueva’s trial is in regards to the contempt charge filed against him by the Office of the Attorney General for refusing to answer questions during legislative investigation on the previous administration’s Building Optimism, Opportunity, and Stability Together grant program.

In the hearing yesterday, the prosecuting party for the CNMI, led by Office of the Attorney General assistant attorney general James Kingman, and Villanueva’s defense attorney, Keith Chambers, appeared before Naraja and set dates for the trial and other logistics leading up to the trial.

Ultimately the trial date was set for Nov. 6, 2024. During the court session yesterday, Kingman said he believes the trial can be completed within one day, while Chambers disagreed saying the trial could become a three-day affair.

“The trial is not going to be three days straight,” said Naraja “If it’s going to work around everyone’s schedule.” He implied that the hearing will start on Nov. 6 and after the hearing and going through the day’s testimony, it will be decided if or when the continuing day may be.