A contracted prosecutor with the Office of the Attorney General has been disqualified and referred for an ethics review.

The Guam Supreme Court ruled Monday that Attorney Curtis Van De Veld is barred from participating in the prosecution of Stefan Camacho, who is accused in the fatal shooting and robbery of a tourist last year.

The decision stems from Van De Veld’s prior involvement with Camacho in a separate case, raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest. 

The court determined Camacho was a prospective client who reasonably believed their conversations were protected by attorney-client privilege.

Despite Van De Veld's objections and submitted evidence, the court concluded there was a substantial risk of violating ethical conduct rules.

The matter has now been referred to the Judiciary of Guam's ethics counsel for further investigation.