Sgt. Cepeda was just convicted last year

Peter B. Cepeda, a Tinian police sergeant arrested Tuesday for alleged “ice” trafficking, is the same person convicted last year for assaulting a police officer and a woman.

Superior Court documents show that on Oct. 14, 2005 Associate Judge David A. Wiseman sentenced Cepeda to one year of supervised probation for two counts of assault and battery.

Wiseman had also ordered Cepeda to pay a $500 fine, $1,500 in restitution to the Department of Public Safety, plus court assessment and probation fees.

In February 2004, the Attorney General’s Office charged the defendant with one count of sexual assault in the second degree, two counts of assault and battery, one count of disturbing the peace, one count of illegal carrying of a firearm, two counts of criminal mischief, one count of misuse of government vehicle, one count of resisting arrest, one count of obstructing justice, one count of reckless driving, and one count of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

The AGO alleged that on Dec. 26, 2003 on Tinian, Cepeda engaged in a sexual contact with a woman and assaulted her.

The defendant, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, recklessly drove a government vehicle that day. When police officers arrested him, the defendant allegedly assaulted Police Sgt. Julian Manglona.

Cepeda also allegedly damaged the right fender of a DPS patrol vehicle as well as the three cell doors at the Tinian Detention Center, the prosecution said.

Cepeda and his counsel entered into a plea agreement with the government. He entered an Alford plea to the two counts of assault and battery. As part of the agreement, the remaining charges were dismissed.

Under Alford’s plea, the defendant does not admit the act and asserts innocence, but admits that sufficient evidence exists with which the prosecution could likely convince a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty.

This time around, the defendant allegedly sold $200 worth of “ice” to a Drug Enforcement Agency source during a controlled purchase on Tinian on Oct. 25, 2005.

During a hearing yesterday in federal court, Cepeda pleaded guilty to the charges of distribution of a controlled substance.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson allowed the temporary release of Cepeda to a third party custodian on a $10,000 cash or property bond.

Attorney Danilo Aguilar was appointed by the court as Cepeda’s counsel.