Bad at being a criminal, thief urged to change ‘jobs’

Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo has told a convicted criminal to change his “job category” because he is not a good thief since he always gets caught.

“You’re not a good criminal! You’ve got to find a real, honest job!” Govendo told Calistro Acosta Crisostomo, who pleaded guilty Monday to burglary and theft.

The judge said the police already know how Crisostomo operates as a thief, making him easy to catch.

“They know you’re not a good criminal!” Govendo told the 24-year-old defendant.

Govendo sentenced Crisostomo to two years in prison, with credit for time already served in prison, and placed him on 10 years of probation.

He said the defendant is prohibited from drinking any alcoholic beverages during the probation period. “When you get out from jail, do not celebrate and drink alcohol. It’s the alcohol that lands you in trouble,” Govendo said.

The judge required the defendant to pay a $1,000 fine plus court costs and probation fees.

He also ordered Crisostomo to perform 200 hours of community service and to write a letter of apology to the victim, Marianas Cable Vision. Govendo also directed Crisostomo to pay $3,785.98 in restitution to MCV.

Govendo described Crisostomo and his two co-defendants, Joseph Acosta Crisostomo and William Jerome T. Deleon Guerrero, as not good at being criminals. “None of you are very good thieves.”

Crisostomo and counsel Danilo Aguilar signed a plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to burglary and theft.

As part of the agreement, the conspiracy to commit burglary was dismissed. The other 2007 criminal case was also dismissed. The defendant has another pending criminal case.

According to the plea agreement, Crisostomo and his co-defendants burglarized MCV between Sept. 10 and 11, 2006, and stole a safe box containing $34,319.25 in U.S. currency, checks, and credit card payments.

Mark Birmingham of MCV called the Department of Public Safety on Sept. 11, 2006, to report the burglary.

Detective Juan M. Santos stated in court papers that, based on preliminary investigation, the perpetrators gained entry by prying open the system manager’s office window, located on the second floor by the air-conditioner area.

One of the suspects, however, left a waist pouch behind on a chair inside the office.

The safety box containing collections in sales in cash, checks and credit card payments was missing from the system manager’s office.

Detective Santos said that, during an interview with a woman on May 8, 2007, in another criminal case, she was asked if she has any knowledge of other crimes being committed.

The woman told police the three defendants were responsible for the MCV burglary. The woman said she heard the defendants bragging about it and how they did it.

Deleon Guerrero, alias Bill, allegedly said they need to go back to the scene because he forgot his waist pouch inside the MCV office.

The woman said Deleon Guerrero claimed there was no identification in the pouch but that police would get his fingerprints from it.

Joseph Crisostomo apparently told Deleon Guerrero not to worry because local police don’t have the equipment for fingerprint identification.

On June 12, 2007, the detective showed the pouch to the woman and she immediately identified it as Deleon Guerrero’s.

In April 2008, Govendo sentenced Deleon Guerrero to five years in prison, all suspended except for 14 months. Deleon Guerrero was given credit for six days he had already served in prison. He signed a plea agreement with the government and pleaded guilty to burglary.