Woman whose probation had been revoked seeks compassionate release

A woman who is currently in prison for violating her probation again has asked the U.S. District Court for the NMI to be released on compassionate grounds, citing her three minor children that need her to take care of them.

Vickilyn Ramonica Manglona Teregeyo, whose probation was revoked after she admitted to using methamphetamine while on probation, has filed a motion with the District Court for the NMI asking for compassionate release, which the U.S. government opposes.

Assistant U.S. attorney Ashley Kost argues against releasing Teregeyo, saying she has not demonstrated “compelling reason” warranting compassionate release.

According to Teregeyo’s motion, she wants to be released so she could take care of her minor children. She argues that the circumstances surrounding the care for her children is compelling enough to grant her compassionate release.

“I have three [minor] children who are currently being cared for by my housekeeper who can no longer take care of them as I am unable to pay her as it is too expensive. Ultimately, the change in circumstances surrounding the care of my children qualifies as an independent extraordinary and compelling reason warranting relief,” she said.

Teregeyo added that she has exhausted all administrative remedies, therefore she has brought her matter before the court.

“On May 26, I was imprisoned at the Department of Corrections [on] Saipan where I asked the DOC director to grant me compassionate release but there was no response. On June 5, while imprisoned on Saipan, I was attacked by a Corrections guard and I was sent to Honolulu Federal Detention Center. I have also requested compassionate release from the warden but there has been no response,” she said.

According to court documents, Teregeyo was initially sentenced to an imprisonment term of one year and 18 days followed by a three-year term of supervised release, with specific conditions that included not to use a controlled substance and to submit to drug tests, among others.

On Sept. 24, 2020, a petition for summons was filed against her for tampering with a sweat patch, submitting a diluted urine sample, and testing positive for the use of methamphetamine on two occasions.

Instead of revoking her supervised release, the court admonished Tergeyo and amended her conditions. Since then, there were several more instances when Teregeyo was found violating her probation conditions, including positive drug tests and submitting diluted urine sample for testing.

Tergeyo’s probation was finally revoked on March 26, 2021, and she was ordered to serve three months imprisonment, followed by 33 months of supervised release.

Soon after being released once more on probation, Teregeyo again admitted to using methamphetamine in November 2021. The court again chose to admonish Teregeyo instead of revoking her term of supervised release.

A few months later, Teregeyo again tested positive for methamphetamine, amphetamine, and THC, and tampered with a sweat patch, followed by another positive drug test.

Her release was revoked again on March 30, 2022 and she was ordered to serve three months imprisonment, followed by 27 months of supervised release. Also, Teregeyo was ordered to serve three months under the home detention with an ankle monitor.

Still, Teregeyo again tested positive for methamphetamine and had removed a drug test sweat patch without permission.

It is worth noting the report was submitted after Teregeyo’s probation had already been revoked by the court.

Her probation conditions were again modified on Feb. 13, 2023 to include three months under the home detention component of the Location Monitoring Program after Teregeyo admitted to using methamphetamine on Jan. 7, 2023.

Prison