Judiciary holds back on misconduct allegation details citing ongoing investigations

 Representatives from the local judiciary appeared virtually before the Legislature as senators sought answers about allegations of impropriety in the local judicial system. Speaker Therese Terlaje called the oversight hearing following testimony in drug cases in the federal court alleging the clearing of warrants in exchange for bribes. She held an oversight on the issue during her last term-- today was round two.

"I must address at the outset that, by the very nature of our mandates and the sacred protections we are duty-bound to uphold, the Judicial Branch is limited in responding to matters that could affect ongoing or potential court proceedings, which includes matters under investigation," Chief Justice Philip Carbullido said. "I would like to begin by respectfully reminding this body, the media and the members of the community what our branch is entrusted to safeguard and how this limits what we can publicly respond to."

Despite Carbullido and his management team making it clear they are unable to present on specific details, this didn't stop the committee on justice from inquiring on the repeated allegations made in district court of misconduct by superior court marshals for vacating warrants in exchange for bribes and the previously named federal offenders, and law enforcement officers involved.

"In that case there were defendants, of course, Mayo and the other case it was the mayor, Mayor Blas and then they had alleged involvement by certain marshals, it was not clear from the media whether they were marshals or former marshals but they mentioned Joey Terlaje and well they just mentioned in general probation officers," he said. "So I just want to know if you can track by marshal because the marshals are each assigned about 300-400 cases, so if you can track back from a marshal?"

Sen. Pedo Terlaje also inquired about his son, Joey Terlaje, the former Department of Corrections deputy and former marshal.

"Another question I wanted to ask was there ever any formal complaint of misconduct filed by the court by Mrs. Vickilynn Teregayo or anyone that was present at a barbecue back in 2017 that my son and marshals were there, probation officers were there that my son assaulted, tied her up for three days and beat her up and everything was there any report of that incident happening," he asked. 

Those were a few of the follow-up questions asked after the court's hour-long presentation of the issuing and vacating process of both arrest and bench warrants and safeguard measures in place. It was learned that through their procedure a single person and even judge cannot vacate a warrant; it takes three divisions to vacate a warrant with the entire process being tracked.

However, the judiciary's response to the legislature's specific questions referenced back to their presentation and shielded behind the matter under investigation.


"Senator first of all we can't comment as to any of the ongoing proceedings that are presently before the court, we are restricted from making any sort of comment whatsoever to any proceedings," Kristina Baird, administrator of the courts said. 

Speaker Terlaje received a letter response from Attorney General Leevin Camacho about thirty minutes prior to the hearing confirming the Office of the Attorney General and the Guam Police Department are actively investigating the reports of alleged misconduct among law enforcement personnel. The letter states the agencies are limited in the information they can provide because of the ongoing investigation.
Although one item on the agenda committee chair, Speaker Terlaje determined to have answered during this afternoon's oversight hearing, was the subject of federal drug offender Mark Mayo's warrants allegedly wiped. Addressing the question was chief probation officer Rossanna Villagomez-Aguon, who said due to Mayo having active cases she is limited in publicly addressing the matter.

"I can speak regarding certain matters of public record, including the existence of non-expunged criminal warrants and other documents that have been filed with the court," she said. "After a thorough review of the filed court documents and probation records in the judiciary's case management system or JUSTWARE and paper records from the probation division, I found nothing in Mr. Mayo's files that indicates warrants were treated in a way that is inconsistent with the processes described by magistrates judge Jonathan Quan in his presentation."

When the allegations of impropriety first surfaced in former Yona Mayor Jesse Blas' September 2019 arraignment the legislative committee called for an oversight hearing which occurred in December 2019. At this time, the judiciary agreed to conduct an internal investigation, although as stated by Speaker Terlaje this afternoon, the legislature never received any updates or findings.

"We appreciate and respect that we are, and ought to be, accountable to our sister branches and to the public regarding how we use appropriated funds or as to our processes and procedures in general," the chief judge said. "This accountability and transparency does not, however, require us to answer publicly to specific matters that are the subject of ongoing internal investigation, and especially to matters that we, as a court of justice, will ultimately be called to pass judgment on."

As stated in the hearing by marshal of the Courts Chief Troy Pangelinan there are over 2,000 warrants pending action.