A senior Guam official is facing serious legal trouble after being accused of assaulting a woman in Washington, D.C. hotel room earlier this year. 

Charles 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 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 at the Metropolitan Police Department. 

She provided a secretly recorded video of the altercation in which she is heard pleading with Esteves to stop and repeatedly telling Esteves, “You are hurting me, stop hurting me!”

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.

Esteves was advised of his rights in federal court and was initially released on personal recognizance, pending further proceedings. 

A jurisdictional hearing is set for Tuesday, May 20  at 11:15 a.m.

The Guam National Guard confirmed that Esteves was not on official military duty at the time of the alleged incident. 

Mark Scott, public affairs officer stated, “Since the alleged actions took place while the soldier was on civilian status, he is in the civilian justice system and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

Senator Shawn Gumataotao, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety, Emergency Management and the Guam National Guard, also issued a statement.

“The news of an arrest of a member of the Leon Guerrero Administration is deeply disappointing. The judicial process is underway between the U.S. District Court of Guam and the U.S. Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the alleged crimes committed by Charles Esteves. Mr. Esteves is facing serious criminal charges and is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” it said. 

As of now, Guam Homeland Security and the Office of Civil Defense have not yet issued any comment to KUAM regarding the case.

We should note that Esteves is also one of six Office of Civil Defense employees indicted in April over alleged overtime fraud. 

He pleaded not guilty on May 1 to misdemeanor charges of certifying officer malfeasance and two counts of official misconduct, all with a special allegation of committing a crime against the community.