Carlos Ketebengang, a 38-year-old man accused of fondling the breasts of a then-12-year-old girl four times on Saipan in 2012, took the witness stand yesterday in Superior Court to deny the allegations.<\/p>\n
As this developed, the six jurors in the case started the deliberations yesterday afternoon after both the prosecution and defense counsel rested. The jurors will continue their deliberations today, Thursday, at 8:15am. <\/p>\n
The prosecution rested the government\u2019s case after calling its fourth witness. Defense counsel Colin Thompson then moved for a judgment of acquittal.<\/p>\n
Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho dismissed three counts of disturbing the peace but not the one count of disturbing the peace and four counts of sexual abuse of a child in the second degree.<\/p>\n
With Camacho\u2019s ruling, the jurors will decide on the four counts of sexual abuse of a child in the second degree. Camacho, who is presiding over the trial, will decide the remaining count of disturbing the peace.<\/p>\n
After the government rested, Thompson called the defense\u2019s only witness, Ketebengang, who denied fondling the girl, saying both of them were never alone in one room.<\/p>\n
Ketebengang said he does not know why the girl is making up such accusations against him.<\/p>\n
When asked why he chose to testify, Ketebengang said he wants to express himself so people will know his side. He said the past two years have been hard for him and his wife. He said right after the funeral of his mother-in-law, he was arrested.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want what happened to me will happen to anybody,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
In the government\u2019s closing arguments, assistant attorney general Clayton Graef said the girl\u2019s testimony showed how Ketebengang took advantage of her and broke her trust in him.<\/p>\n
Quoting the girl\u2019s testimony, Graef said that Ketebangang touched the victim\u2019s breasts four times over her shirt and under her shirt between August and September 2012.<\/p>\n
Graef said the girl, who is now 14, spoke about the sexual abuse when a teacher noticed a red mark on her neck and brought her to the school\u2019s counselor.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor said the girl also told the same things to her mother, investigators, and to the jurors.<\/p>\n
In the defense\u2019s closing arguments, Thompson said Ketebengang is a brave man because he has chosen to testify when the law does not require him to do so. Thompson said in this case, there are no exhibits, photos, or any other physical evidence presented.<\/p>\n
Thompson said if the only evidence is \u201che said, she said,\u201d then jurors are not firmly convinced based on such contradictory statements.<\/p>\n
The defense lawyer said the girl\u2019s story began when the teacher noticed a red mark on her neck. Thompson said the girl tried to hide that red mark and when Judge Camacho asked her if it was a hickey, she replied \u201cno.\u201d Yet the girl never answered where the red mark came from, Thompson said.<\/p>\n
He said the girl first stated she had no boyfriend but later admitted she had.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has lied to you,\u201d the lawyer pointed out. \u201cShe\u2019s pushing a story, untruthful story.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the government\u2019s rebuttal, Graef said in such sexual abuse cases, there are no photos or other physical evidence. Graef said the law states that if the witness or witnesses are credible, then the jury can convict.<\/p>\n
He said the girl testified that she has no boyfriend now, but that she had one before.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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