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Govendo drops case against one of four accused of selling marijuana
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Posted on Nov 25 2005
Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo yesterday dismissed charges against a 46-year-old man who was among a group of men accused of selling marijuana to Navy men.
Govendo dismissed without prejudice the case against Miguel M. Lieto after the Attorney General’s Office moved for the dropping of the charges.
Dismissal without prejudice refers to a dismissal leaving the prosecution free to try again later if circumstances change.
Assistant Attorney General Jeffery Warfield Sr. stated in a motion that, “for good cause, the Commonwealth believes it is in the interest of justice to dismiss the case without prejudice against Lieto.”
The AGO charged Lieto, Daniel L. Kalen, Edwin S. Kileleman, and Freely Ringlen with two counts of trafficking of a controlled substance and one count of unlawful distribution of controlled substance.
The government alleged that between Nov. 8 and 10, 2004, the defendants conspired to sell marijuana to tourists in western Garapan particularly to the visiting military personnel.
All defendants, except Kileleman, are security guards at nightclubs in Garapan, the prosecution said.
The U.S. Department of Defense Naval Criminal Investigation assisted the agents from the Department of Public Safety’s Special Investigation Section in conducting the probe.
Kalen, Kileleman, and Ringlen had already pleaded guilty. They were all sentenced to one year in jail, all suspended except for time already served. (Ferdie de la Torre)
