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2 policemen-suspects given more time to prepare defense
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Posted on Feb 15 2005
The U.S. District Court yesterday gave two policemen two more months to prepare their defense in the case that accuses them of stealing seized evidence—money and illegal drugs—and of peddling the drugs.
The court reset the jury trial of Eric John Tudela Mafnas and Charley K. Patris from March 14 to June 6.
Both policemen, who were suspended from their respective posts at the Department of Public Safety’s Special Investigation Section, waived their right to speedy trial.
Their-co-defendant, Guam resident Carl Cabrera, failed to appear in yesterday’s hearing, but his lawyer, Timothy Bellas apologized to the court and said that he had not notified his client to be present.
Federal prosecutors earlier accused the policemen of stealing money and illegal drugs from DPS custody and peddling part of stolen narcotics. Cabrera allegedly conspired with the two policemen in peddling methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as “ice.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation had tagged Mafnas as the organizer and leader of the criminal activity, accusing the policeman of stealing from the DPS some 46 grams of ice on one occasion. The three defendants have denied the charges against them.
