by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Former governor Carl Gutierrez appeared in the Superior Court of Guam this morning and pleaded not guilty and asserted his right to a speedy trial. Trial has been scheduled for May 12 at 9 in the morning. Gutierrez, along with former Retirement Fund director John Rios, has have been in and out of court over the last several years. The two are accused of devising a scheme to enhance Gutierrez's retirement benefits.

Those charges previously were dismissed a second time, but Guam's high court found that the trial court misapplied the statutes when the second indictment charges were thrown out. Gutierrez and his attorney, Randy Cunliffe, are confident they will come out on top and said that this is only going to benefit his campaign to run for governor this year.

Gutierrez is running for governor along with his running mate, Senator Frank Aguon, Jr.