No promises, but District Court Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood says in light of the health and legal concerns raised by former Yona mayor Jesse Blas, she is now considering releasing him from federal custody.
The federal extortion charges against the former mayor is not a violent crime and with the assertions that his health is at risk by his continued detainment at DOC’s Hagatna detention facility, the Chief Judge is reconsidering her order issued yesterday which denied his motion for temporary release.
But a decision won’t be made until next week, providing the Department of Corrections, legal counsels and the US Marshals to vet Blas’s medical conditions and claim that he isn’t receiving the treatment needed.
“If it is true, then we have a problem,” stated Chief Judge Tydingco-Gatewood who is concerned for Blas’ health and safety.
The Chief Judge says she is not making any assumptions at this time on the truthfulness of the statements.
“I don’t want to do it. I already said no. But I don’t want to leave him in the facility if he is going to die there. I don’t want to do that,” the chief judge said.
Blas was instructed to try and get a reputable third-party custodian in case she considers one.
As for Blas’ concerns over the lack of an attorney/client room at HDF, the Chief Judge is trying to utilize CARES Act Funding to outfit a room for lawyers to confer with their clients.
“If anything good comes out of this hearing, that will be one of the goods things that will be top priority,” Tydingco-Gatewood said.
A hearing has been set for next Tuesday.
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