Judge orders deportation of FSM citizen

An ex-convict who was the companion of a man who was fatally shot by a police officer in Gualo Rai entered a guilty plea yesterday.

Oncho Atinson Alafonso, 22, signed a plea agreement with the government and pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.

Superior Court Associate Judge Ramona V. Manglona accepted Alafonso’s plea and sentenced him to 10 years in prison, all suspended except for the time that he has already served in jail.

Manglona said that pursuant to the court’s previous order in Alafonso’s other criminal case, the defendant shall be immediately ordered deported to the Federated States of Micronesia, Chuuk State.

Following the agreement, the judge instructed the Division of Immigration to issue an order to show cause for deportation and Alafonso shall stipulate to an order of deportation.

The defendant was remanded to the custody of Immigration officials for immediate deportation.

The agreement stated that on Dec. 11, 2005, Alafonso hit Ernest Rangamar on the head and body with a 2” x 4” piece of lumber.

The government charged the defendant with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of aggravated assault and battery.

Alafonso and counsel Robert T. Torres signed a plea agreement with the government.

The Attorney General’s Office charged the defendant for assaulting Ernest S. Rangamar and his father Ralph Rangamar.

Detective Christopher Leon Guerrero testified in court that Alafonso and his companion Donnald Sewel beat up the victims outside the Rangamars’ residence.

Ernest Rangamar sustained a 15-cm laceration on top of the head, and other lacerations and abrasions to the head, knees and shoulders.

Ralph Rangamar was also treated for abrasions to the elbows and different parts of the body.

The detective said that earlier that night, Alafonso and Sewel went to the Rangamars’ house, demanding that they open the door and asking for a fight against a person.

Alafonso and Sewel beat up Ernest Rangamar on the road. The fight escalated from the road to the Rangamars’ residence when Ernest Rangamar ran to the house.

Police Officer 1 Andrew Santos reportedly shot dead Sewel after he tried to attack him with a piece of lumber. Santos was among three police officers who responded to the fight.

The AGO concluded that the fatal shooting was justified under the circumstances.