Copyright guampdn
A man convicted of sexually abusing a then-13-year-old girl will have to wait until next month to learn his sentence. Superior Court Judge Alberto Tolentino on Thursday postponed the sentencing of Mannix Frank Songeni to Nov. 10 granting more time for both the defense and prosecution to file sentencing memoranda and for the victim to be present at the hearing. Songeni, who was present in Tolentino’s courtroom, was scheduled to be sentenced this week after being found guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and complicity to commit the same offense. However, during the hearing, both parties agreed that more time was needed to review the pre-sentence investigation report filed Oct. 17, and to complete their written recommendations for sentencing. Tolentino also noted in the hearing that prosecutors had filed a sentencing memorandum earlier that morning, while the defense had not yet submitted one. Defense attorney Terrence Timblin said he decided against filing immediately because the report arrived late. “We got this on Friday, and I only had the chance [Wednesday] to speak with [Songeni] here,” he said. Timblin requested to continue the hearing to a later date, and prosecuting attorney Christine Tenorio agreed, citing that both parties need to review each other’s submissions. “No objection. Your Honor, I did speak with Mr. Timblin, and we were both intending on requesting a continuance, one so that he could read each other’s memoranda to the extent that there was a dispute in the law,” Tenorio said. Additionally, Tenorio said the victim, now 15 years old, wants to be present at the sentencing alongside her grandmother. “I was not able to get hold of her until [Wednesday], so that’s why my sentencing memorandum was late,” she said. Tolentino accepted the joint request, noting that Songeni’s co-actor Andon is set for sentencing on Nov. 6. He explained that the delay allows both sides to review the PSR and submit recommendations. “Your lawyer needs to file one. The government has already done that,” Tolentino said to Songeni. The judge also addressed a concern in the PSR regarding victim contact. “When I read the PSR, one of the things I do because normally, an attempt is made to contact the victim or the victim’s family. There was no attempt made,” he said. Probation officials responded that outreach had been made through the Crimes Victims Response Unit, but no reply came until the day before the hearing. Tenorio asked that probation adopt a more direct process in future cases. “I would request in the future that they contact me directly. We have three advocates for all of our cases, so it is difficult for our advocates to keep up with that,” she said. “We have to contact members so the victim advocate can furnish it to probation later.” Tolentino acknowledged that the probation officer had reached out to Songeni’s family but reiterated that information from the victim should also be included. The victim and her grandmother are expected to attend the Nov. 10 hearing and asked for any addendum to the PSR to be submitted promptly. According to Pacific Daily News files, Andon, also known as Keetpap Tokoko and Keison Andon, was convicted of first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct and faces potential additional sentencing if he is found to have committed crimes while on release. His lawyer, Thomas Fisher, disagreed with the verdict and said he plans to appeal Andon’s conviction due to the victim’s inconsistencies in the timeline and evidence. The Office of the Attorney General plans to seek the maximum sentences of up to life plus 75 years for Andon and two life sentences plus 50 years for Songeni and as both men are not U.S. citizens, the AG also plans to pursue their deportation through cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
