10 Apr 2013

Ex-CNMI lawmaker gets 3 years in prison for 'ice' possession

9:15 am on 10 April 2013

A former Northern Marianas lawmaker Raymond Palacios, who pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine or ice has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo sentenced the 49-year-old Palacios to five years in prison, all suspended except for three years, with no parole and with credit for time-served.

After serving his sentence, Palacios will be placed on probation for two years and required to pay a 2,000 US dollar fine.

He will start serving his sentence on April 22.

Judge Govendo says he believed the former lawmaker's remorse, and noted that he has the support of a family that is well known in the community.

Police say that Palacios had sold 100 dollars worth of methamphetamine to a cooperating source on two separate occasions on October the 19th, 2011.