Government appeals judge's ruling on accused sex offender
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.222222328186px; line-height: 13.7999992370605px;">Should convicted sex offender Adam Messier be granted a new trial?</span>
August 1, 2014Updated: August 1, 2014
By KUAM News
By KUAM News by Krystal Paco
Guam - Should convicted sex offender Adam Messier be granted a new trial?
This was up for debate in the Supreme Court of Guam today as the government appeals Judge James Canto's decision to grant Messier a new trial.
Messier was convicted last year of sexually assaulting a female minor and faces a maximum of 17 years behind bars. The judge found numerous inconsistencies with the testimony of the government's key witness. He noted in the decision and order, that the credibility of the victim and her sister were impeached as both girls admitted to lying just a year prior about their brother and father sexually abusing them. Today assistant attorney general Matthew Heibel argued that it's the judge that didn't agree with the verdict, calling Canto's actions "abuse of discretion" and that the evidence presented will not change if Messier is granted a new trial.
Meanwhile, Attorney Howard Trapp remained confident his defendant would win in a second trial as Messier would take to the stand to testify for himself.
The case was taken under advisement.
Guam - Should convicted sex offender Adam Messier be granted a new trial?
This was up for debate in the Supreme Court of Guam today as the government appeals Judge James Canto's decision to grant Messier a new trial.
Messier was convicted last year of sexually assaulting a female minor and faces a maximum of 17 years behind bars. The judge found numerous inconsistencies with the testimony of the government's key witness. He noted in the decision and order, that the credibility of the victim and her sister were impeached as both girls admitted to lying just a year prior about their brother and father sexually abusing them. Today assistant attorney general Matthew Heibel argued that it's the judge that didn't agree with the verdict, calling Canto's actions "abuse of discretion" and that the evidence presented will not change if Messier is granted a new trial.
Meanwhile, Attorney Howard Trapp remained confident his defendant would win in a second trial as Messier would take to the stand to testify for himself.
The case was taken under advisement.