Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan) has decided to fight the driving-under-the-influence charge that was filed against him.<\/p>\n
During a change of plea hearing yesterday, Sablan\u2019s lawyer, Vince Torres, said that Sablan is standing by his initial plea of innocence. <\/p>\n
Sablan\u2019s bench trial is set for July 22 at 9am at the Marianas Business Plaza.<\/p>\n
The Commonwealth was represented yesterday by Office of the Attorney General\u2019s Robert Glass. <\/p>\n
Sablan, 38, who is also the floor leader of the House of Representatives, was initially charged with six traffic violations; he pleaded not guilty to all of them.<\/p>\n
The charges are driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, refusing to submit to a breathalyzer test, vehicle lights violations, driving illegally on the wrong side of the road, and accidents (hitting a lamp post)<\/p>\n
Reckless driving and DUI are punishable by up to six months imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1,000.<\/p>\n
According to a Department of Public Safety traffic report, Sablan was involved in an auto accident on Beach Road, hitting a pathway lamp on Sept. 30, 2018, at about 2:35am.<\/p>\n
Sablan was brought to the Department of Corrections for booking and detention immediately after, but was later released at 6:30am.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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