Man in poker robbery gets 180-day sentence

A man was given a 180-day sentence for robbing a poker arcade when he got upset after he lost $180 for playing poker.

Superior Court Associate Judge Ramona V. Manglona sentenced Genero Vega Lansangan to two years in prison, all suspended except for 180 days, for theft of property over $250.

Manglona gave Lansangan credit for the seven days he had already served in jail.

For assault and battery, Manglona sentenced the defendant to one year imprisonment, all suspended except for 180 days, with credit for the seven days he had already served in jail.

The judge said the sentences shall run concurrently. This means Lansangan will spend only 180 days less seven days for the two offenses.

Lansangan was ordered to start serving the prison term yesterday at the Department of Corrections.

Manglona placed the defendant on probation for three years and ordered him to pay a $250 fine and $200 in court assessment and probation fees.

Manglona said Lansangan shall write a letter of apology to Susupe Laundry & Poker and Ms. Chunzi Jin.

Lansangan pleaded guilty to the lesser included offense of theft of property over $250, and assault and battery.

Manglona said this is a case of an unfortunate common occurrence on Saipan, a poker room robbery. To deter such crimes, the judge said, a severe punishment such as a long prison sentence seems appropriate.

“However, a careful review of the facts of this case justifies accepting the parties' negotiated plea agreement,” she said.

Manglona said this is Lansangan's first criminal case after having lived in the Commonwealth for about a decade.

She said the money that the defendant stole was recovered quickly because he was arrested near the poker room establishment.

“Although it legally supports a robbery, the force he used to obtain the money did not involve the use of any dangerous weapon. Nevertheless, he injured the poker room attendant by punching her in the face,” Manglona said.

The judge said Lansangan has since accepted responsibility and entered his guilty plea knowing that this conviction will subject him to a possible deportation case.

Police said the incident happened at Susupe Laundry & Poker in Susupe on May 11, 2007. As a result of the beating, Ms. Jin Chunzi Jin, the attendant, suffered swelling on the face, bruises and scratches on the arms, and bruising to the neck.

Lansangan was seen hiding inside a restroom of the building where Susupe Poker is located when a police officer came in and arrested him.

Lansangan admitted to a police detective that he beat up Jin and robbed the poker arcade because he was upset when he lost $180 to poker.

Saipan Tribune

News Added: 28 December, 2007

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