Fears linger for Dededo neighborhood following rapist conviction

Nearly half a decade later, 42-year-old Jesse James will spend life behind bars. James pleaded guilty to charges that he raped a thirteen-year-old girl back in 2019. 

The brutal incident unfolded on Loreta Street in Dededo when the young teen was walking home from Papa Store. That’s when James dragged the child into the jungle before raping her. 

Papa Store owner Kumi Okamura said James was a regular customer who hung around heavy drinkers. 

“I was shocked also. This person was very quiet. Before he came to the store–almost every day he came to the store. It was quiet, but a whole bunch of people…they sit in the jungle, and they’ve been drinking,” said Okamura. 

It’s questionable behavior resident Reina Lizama said is still happening, despite efforts to clear vegetation in the area and James’ life sentence. 

Lizama said, “I have two kids in my house that I want to be able to go out in the yard, but we have some people who are drunk, some people who are just not themselves–that it’s not safe. So, no matter the situation of what happened 3-4 years ago, to what’s going on now, it’s never safe to be honest.” 

And the shock of what happened to the young girl almost five years ago still hasn’t worn off for others with young children, like Papa Store employee Sara Lester.

“I was concerned about her safety too, because I have younger kids. So yes, I was concerned that it’s not safe to walk alone,” she said. 

And while Lizama told KUAM complaints about the dangers in the neighborhood are seemingly falling on deaf ears, she's now urging local law enforcement and island leaders to listen up before another incident happens. 

Lizama said, “There’s going to be more of all incidents if they’re not acting on it right away…and that’s all we want.” 

James' guilty plea was made two days prior to trial. 

The Attorney General's office called him,  “An animal that deserves to be locked away to protect other innocent children."