A senior Guam official is facing serious legal trouble after being accused of assaulting a woman in a Washington, D.C. hotel room earlier this year. Charles Vincent Esteves, Administrator of Guam’s Office of Civil Defense and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Guam National Guard, is at the center of a disturbing criminal case.

According to court documents, on March 23, 2025, at the Washington Hilton, Esteves allegedly straddled the victim—his then-girlfriend and the mother of his 7-month-old child—pulled her hair, and choked her, leaving visible marks. He also allegedly threatened to kill her family.

The woman reported the incident weeks later, flying back to D.C. with her mother and child to file a police report. She provided a secretly recorded video of the altercation in which she is heard pleading with Esteves to stop as he yells, “I don’t [expletive] care.” Detectives reviewed the video and confirmed its contents. She also submitted a copy of Esteves’ Guam driver’s license as part of the evidence.

According to court documents, Esteves was advised of his rights in federal court and was released on personal recognizance. A jurisdictional hearing is set for Tuesday, May 20 at 11:15am.

Senator Shawn Gumataotao, chair of the committee on public safety, emergency management and the Guam National Guard, issued the following statement:

“The news of an arrest… is deeply disappointing. The judicial process is underway… Mr. Esteves is facing serious criminal charges and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”