MEDIA RELEASE

September 26, 2009 Parolee held in burglary A homeowner's security video and follow-up work by Department of Corrections officers helped lead to the arrest Wednesday of a convicted burglar on suspicion of another burglary while out on parole.Department of Corrections Director J.B. Palacios yesterday said parole officers Rick Leon Guerrero Jr. and Mark Fleming were looking at a homeowner's footage of a burglary earlier this week that had taken place at a Mangilao house, when they recognized the burglar as a parolee. The parole officers viewed the video on the KUAM Web site, Palacios said. The footage recorded a man using a cinder block to smash a sliding door before burglarizing the home, Palacios said.The parole officers identified the alleged burglar as Joaquin Aldan Taitano, who was on parole after being convicted of burglary and drug possession. Taitano had been released from prison a few months ago, said Officer Jeff Limo, from the Special Operations Response Team of DOC's parole services division. "If parolees are up to no good, they will get caught by us and be brought back in," Limo said. Parole officers conducted an unannounced search of the parolee's home in Mangilao on Sept. 22. Officers can arrive unannounced to search the residence of the parolee, Palacios said. Parole officers found jewelry, a laptop and other allegedly stolen items and called police, Palacios said.Police arrested Taitano on charges of burglary, theft of property and possession of crystal methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Limo said. "As a result of their diligence to follow up on it, a burglary case was solved and items of value were returned to the homeowner," Palacios said. "And there's one less burglar on the loose." Alleged burglaries Taitano allegedly committed two burglaries this month -- one in Mangilao on Sept. 18 and one in Harmon on Sept. 22, according to the magistrate's complaint.The value of the items stolen from each house exceeded $1,500, said Assistant Attorney General Charles Kinnunen in the court declaration filed with the complaint. A laptop and personal items were stolen from the Harmon residence on Sept. 22, while jewelry and personal items were stolen from the Mangilao residence on Sept. 18.In Taitano's residence, the parole officers discovered clothing matching the clothes worn by the suspect in the Sept. 18 surveillance video, as well as the stolen items. The officers identified Taitano by his shoulder tattoo and other physical characteristics, the document states.Taitano was charged with two counts of burglary as a second-degree felony and two counts of theft as a second-degree felony in the magistrate's complaint.Taitano is being held on $25,000 cash bail. He's scheduled to appear before Superior Court Judge Arthur Barcinas on Oct. 2.

7/6/09 Department of Corrections Director JB Palacios, says it was a case of conflicting procedures that led to the brief escape of DOC inmate Kuenty Topich on Saturday. On the Breakfast Show this morning Palacios explained that normal procedure requires 2 DOC guards accompany a prisoner who leaves the facility. But that was superseded by the Fire Department's ambulance procedures which allowed only one guard to go along with Topich to Guam Memorial Hospital. Then GMH procedure required removal of Topich's restraints and that he be left alone with the doctor for his examination. When the Doctor left the room, Guam Police Department spokesman Allan Guzman says Topisch fled. But Guzman says he was nabbed 7 minutes later Officer Donny Pangelinan of the Frankie Smith Police Station.Palacios says an internal investigation is being conducted and he hopes to reach a memorandum of understanding with GFD and GMH to allow DOC procedures to prevail in the future.

7/4/09 22-year-old Kuenty Topich, who has been behind bars since April on charges of criminal sexual conduct and aggravated assault, now faces an additional charge of escape. Topich escaped from the Guam Memorial Hospital. DepCor Director J.B. Palacios says the detainee was taken to the hospital after he complained of stomach cramps and chest pains earlier today. The director adds Topich escaped when the doctor walked out. SWAT agents and GPD officers conducted a search of the nearby area and located the detainee 45 minutes later in Perezville. Palacios confirms an internal affairs investigation was launched into the escape to determine whether there was officer negligence. DepCor officials also told KUAM News they found nothing wrong with Topich after he first indicated he needed medical attention.

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DepCor donates eggplants from its Green Valley Farm to Catholic Social Services (5/16/08).