Kagman rape lookout gets 15-yr. prison term

Angel Jess Santos was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison for his role in the kidnapping and rape of a then 16-year-old student in Kagman last year.

Superior Court associate judge David A. Wiseman said that 10 years of Santos’ sentence will be served without the possibility of parole.

“The acts underlying the offense in this case were horrific, outrageous, depraved, and constitute an affront to the dignity of human nature and cannot be tolerated in any civilized society,” said Wiseman.

The 22-year-old Santos was actually sentenced to 20 years in prison but five years will be suspended, with credit for time served. He has been in jail since his arrest on June 18, 2010.

Santos’ lawyer, Joseph James Norita Camacho, told Saipan Tribune after the hearing that his client is still willing to cooperate with the government if it re-files the charges against Santos’ three co-defendants.

“Hopefully his cooperation will bring a small measure of justice to the victim and her family,” he added.

Camacho said that Santos had a minimum involvement in this case, being merely the lookout as his co-defendants raped the girl.

“His participation was limited to being the lookout. He never participated in the sexual assault,” Camacho said.

According to Santos, it was Joseph Camacho Jr., Alfred P. Hocog, and Ivan Jones Castro who abducted and then sexually assaulted the victim.

Santos immediately pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sexual assault in the first degree as part of a plea deal where he will testify against the three other suspects.

In December 2010, Wiseman dismissed without prejudice the case against Joseph Camacho Jr., Hocog, and Castro, at the request of the Office of the Attorney General, after the results of a DNA test turned up inconclusive.

In sentencing Santos, Wiseman said the CNMI’s public laws represent the will and sentiment of the people of the community and when it comes to sexual abuse in the first degree, they have spoken loud and clear—with harsh sentences.

“The will of the people as expressed through our laws must be followed by this court,” Wiseman said.

He said the victim’s version of what happened in this matter as well as the adverse effect it has had and will continue to have on her years of youth is of great concern to the court and to the community because it will most likely affect her for a long time.

Assistant attorney general Brian Gallagher had recommended a sentence of 30 years in prison, all suspended except for 18 years, without parole. The defense asked for 10 years. Santos eventually got 15 years.

He will be placed on probation after serving his sentence and will be required to register as a sex offender. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, $100 court assessment fee, and probation fees in an amount to be determined by the Office of Adult Probation.

If appropriate, Wiseman said, Santos shall pay restitution to the victim in an amount to be set by the court. He will also foot the bill for the victim’s future psychological evaluation/counseling/treatment costs, if any.

The judge directed Santos to undergo evaluation at the Community Guidance Center for any counseling.

Santos was ordered to write letters of apology to the victim and her family.

Santos and three others reportedly abducted the student in Kagman on June 15, 2010, and brought her to Tank Beach where she was raped.