By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
HEE Jung Hwang and Yichuan Bai, who were accused of kidnapping and assaulting a tour guide on Aug. 25, have pled not guilty to the charges against them.
Both defendants waived reading of the charges in the information, waived advisement of their constitutional rights, and entered pleas of “not guilty.”
Superior Court Judge Joseph N. Camacho has not scheduled a trial date but set a status conference for Feb. 4, 2026, at 10 a.m., even after an Immigration Court issued an order for Hwang’s deportation from the CNMI for overstaying his visa.
Judge Camacho ordered the parties to be prepared to advise the court whether the matter will be disposed of by a change of plea, trial, or other disposition.
“The parties should also be prepared to select a trial date for this case,” he added.
As for the other co-defendant, Peter Deleon Guerrero, 57 — also known as “Dragon” or “Paduna” — Judge Camacho denied his request for a bail modification.
All defendants were remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections.
The CNMI Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division initially charged Hwang, 38, and co-defendant Deleon Guerrero with kidnapping, aggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, and disturbing the peace following an Aug. 25 incident.
The victim told police he was forcibly taken and assaulted by Hwang and two other suspects, including 39-year-old Yichuan Bai. The alleged attack occurred in Chinatown, where the victim said he was lured under false pretenses and later threatened.
Hwang posted $25,000 cash bail for his release but was later rearrested after a search warrant was executed at his residence and office. Authorities charged him with possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a controlled substance, violation of firearm identification card requirements, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The court then found probable cause to charge Hwang with assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault and battery as principal, assault and battery, kidnapping, possession of a firearm and ammunition without a firearm owner identification card, and illegal possession of a controlled substance. The court found probable cause to charge Bai with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, kidnapping as principal, possession of firearm ammunition without a firearm owner identification card, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Deleon Guerrero was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery.
Hwang is represented by attorney Joaquin Torres, Bai by attorney Mark Hanson, and Deleon Guerrero by attorney Michael Evangelista.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
