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Who is Eria Elliot?
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Posted on Feb 08 2009
Eria Elliot, a 28-year-old Palauan, is regularly seen roaming the island’s streets and entering establishments to ask for food and money from passersby, customers, and tourists.
Elliot has been in and out of jail due to several criminal charges, mostly for assaulting people and disturbing the peace. Judges also issued numerous bench warrants for his arrest for not appearing at court hearings.
Many people, however, are not aware that this Palauan has also been admitted several times to the Commonwealth Health Center.
A psychiatrist, Dr. Willie Gutowski, disclosed that Elliot has been a familiar patient at CHC for acute psychosis related to alcohol and marijuana abuse.
Gutowski issued a medical report on June 28, 2006, regarding Elliot after Superior Court associate judge Kenneth Govendo directed the doctor to conduct an examination on the defendant.
In issuing the order on June 23, 2006, Govendo suspended all proceedings in Elliot’s criminal cases.
In his report, Gutowski said the defendant suffers from schizophrenia and has auditory hallucinations. The doctor, however, determined that the defendant was competent to stand trial.
In July 2007, Judge Ramona Manglona issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Elliot for not appearing during court hearings in four criminal cases. He was arrested later.
Last month, Manglona issued another bench warrant against Elliot for non-appearance in the same cases. He was subsequently arrested.
Last Thursday, associate judge David Wiseman issued another bench warrant against the defendant for non-appearance. On Friday, Elliot was arrested and taken before Govendo.
Govendo released Elliot and ordered him to come back to court on Feb. 11 for his arraignment.
According to court documents, the defendant’s latest case involves assault and battery for allegedly punching in the face Joselito Rivera on July 2, 2008.
Elliot has a pending 2006 case for shattering the window of a car owned by Edwin Aaron Johnson on July 15, 2006.
Another 2006 case involved disturbing the peace for allegedly harassing customers at the Garapan Market while intoxicated.
In 2007, Elliot was also charged with assault and battery for hitting Noimy Dakanno Obed with a serving tray.
