Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa K. Kim-Tenorio slapped a 10-year prison sentence against George Norris Langu Jr., a 19-year-old who broke into a house and raped his 16-year-old neighbor on Saipan.<\/p>\n
\u201cA strong message must be sent to defendant and the community that sexual assault, in any capacity, will not be tolerated,\u201d Kim-Tenorio said.<\/p>\n
Langu was given credit of 201 days for time served.<\/p>\n
Upon completing the prison term, the defendant will be placed on supervised probation for five years.<\/p>\n
Langu was ordered to pay restitution to the victim in an amount to be determined later, plus $100 in court costs, and $100 per year in probation fee.<\/p>\n
Kim-Tenorio ordered Langu to submit to examinations focusing on sex offender counseling and abide by the treatment decisions made by the Community Guidance Center.<\/p>\n
The judge required Langu to complete a drug and alcohol counseling and any other recommended counseling by the treatment provider or the Office of Adult Probation.<\/p>\n
The Office of the Attorney General charged Langu with burglary, sexual assault in the first degree, assault and battery, disturbing the peace, and criminal mischief.<\/p>\n
Langu signed a plea deal with the government and pleaded guilty last Feb. 23 to the offense of sexual assault in the first degree.<\/p>\n
As part of the plea deal, the government moved to dismiss the remaining charges. The court granted the motion.<\/p>\n
At the sentencing hearing on Tuesday, acting chief prosecutor Barbara Cepeda recommended a sentence of between eight and 12 years imprisonment.<\/p>\n
Cepeda argued that defendant\u2019s youthfulness leaves a high possibility of rehabilitation. She also stated that defendant\u2019s intoxication impaired his ability to use proper judgment.<\/p>\n
Assistant public defender Matthew Meyer, counsel for Langu, recommended an eight-year prison term.<\/p>\n
Kim-Tenorio recognized that Langu\u2019s remorsefulness, lack of criminal history, and ability to be rehabilitated as mitigating factors.<\/p>\n
Kim-Tenorio also acknowledged the parties\u2019 and victim\u2019s request for a lenient sentence.<\/p>\n
The judge said Langu, an otherwise smart and thoughtful person, made a horrible decision that will now rob him of his formative years and a brighter future.<\/p>\n
\u201cNonetheless, one\u2019s remorse and apologies do not negate criminal behavior,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Kim-Tenorio said by unlawfully engaging in sexual penetration without consent, Langu committed a permanent violation of the victim\u2019s authority over her own body.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch an invasion not only causes physical pain but leaves a traumatic and immeasurable scar to bear over one\u2019s lifetime,\u201d the judge pointed out.<\/p>\n
Kim-Tenorio added that pleas for leniency offend basic notions of justice for victims of this crime and the community at large.<\/p>\n
Two police officers responded last Sept. 1 at 3:57am to a call about a sexual assault incident in Chalan Kanoa. <\/p>\n
The alleged victim told police that she was asleep inside her room when a man sexually assaulted her. The girl said she struggled, prompting the suspect she later recognized as Langu, to run outside the house. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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