Pinoy on Saipan pleads guilty to kidnapping,sexual abuse of minor

SUSUPE, Saipan – A Filipino construction worker on Friday pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping and sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree filed against him.

Arnel Cunanan Gutierrez, 41, was arrested on March 27 for failing to appear for his March 20 hearing in connection with the charges.

On Aug. 3, 2007, Gutierrez confined his common-law wife “for the purpose of inflicting bodily harm to the victim," according to the plea agreement.

It added that Gutierrez “did unlawfully engage in sexual contact with a minor who is 15 years of age."

Gutierrez was charged with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of kidnapping, one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree, and one count of disturbing the peace.

The US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
(CNMI) Superior Court issued a bench warrant when Gutierrez failed to appear for his hearing on March 20. He was arrested on March 27.

The CNMI, about three hours way from Manila, is currently home to 10,000 documented workers from the Philippines.

On Friday, Gutierrez appeared before CNMI Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman, who set a $10,000 cash bail for his liberty.

The cash bail was waived after Gutierrez, through Assistant Public Defender Malik Edwards, agreed to a change of plea hearing.

Chief Prosecutor Jeffery Warfield Sr. agreed to dismiss the other charges.

The judge set the sentencing hearing for April 10 and Gutierrez was remanded to the custody of the CNMI Department of Corrections. - Haidee V. Eugenio, GMANews.TV

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