Jonas held on $20K bail in Koblerville gun burglary case

A man accused in the burglary of a Koblerville residence where four firearms and other property were reported stolen remains in Department of Corrections custody after he was unable to post $20,000 bail.

Etpison Faustino Jonas appeared before the Superior Court last Tuesday, Sept. 15, for a bail hearing, with Heather Barcinas, assistant chief of the Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division, representing the government and attorney Anthony Aguon representing Jonas.

Because Jonas was unable to post the $20,000 bail, the court set his preliminary hearing for Sept. 22 and his arraignment for Sept. 30.

The court also ordered Jonas to have no direct contact with Bryan Piteg, Sarah Jane Piteg, his co-defendant, and the Pitegs’ residence. He was remanded back to DOC pending further court proceedings.

Jonas’ court appearance came a day after the Department of Public Safety, working with Ports Police, arrested him at about 9:59am last Monday, Sept. 14, at the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport car rental area.

According to DPS, police received information at about 9:48am that Jonas, who was wanted on an active arrest warrant in connection with a burglary and theft investigation, was at the airport. Authorities said the warrant involved allegations that Jonas possessed multiple firearms stolen during the burglary.

DPS and Ports Police officers located Jonas inside the car rental building and arrested him without further incident.

During the operation, officers were informed that the vehicle in which Jonas had arrived was returning to the airport. DPS said officers conducted what it described as a “tactical approach” because of the nature of the outstanding warrant and secured the vehicle’s operator after the individual initially failed to comply with several commands from investigators.

The vehicle operator was subsequently cleared and released and left the airport without further incident, according to DPS.

The underlying case stems from a burglary reported to DPS last Sept. 5 at a second-floor apartment in Koblerville along Chalan Monsignor Martinez.

According to a complaint and affidavit of probable cause filed by DPS Lt. Catherine B. Pangelinan, Bryan Piteg told police that his family left the apartment at about 2:30pm on Sept. 4 for an overnight stay at Pacific Islands Club Saipan in San Antonio. When they returned at about 3pm the following day, they found the front door unlocked, the balcony sliding door unlocked, and screwdrivers on the balcony.

Piteg reported four firearms missing: a Glock 19 Gen 5 9mm, Taurus TX22 .22-caliber pistol, Smith & Wesson Shield EZ .380, and Canik Mete SF 9mm.

Also reported stolen were ammunition, several watches, a Kate Spade bag, an Under Armour duffle bag, and a power bank. Police estimated the total value of the missing property at $5,915.

The investigation developed further on Sept. 6 when an individual identified in the affidavit only as a concerned citizen surrendered two boxes of ammunition to police.

According to Pangelinan’s affidavit, the individual later told investigators that he or she had encountered Jonas and Louise Aldan at a room in Koblerville. The individual alleged that Aldan displayed a Smith & Wesson Shield EZ handgun and claimed Jonas had burglarized the Pitegs’ apartment.

The affidavit states that the concerned citizen was told Jonas knew firearms were kept at the apartment because he and Piteg are first cousins. The same source alleged that co-defendant Jenny Higgins served as the getaway driver during the burglary.

DPS said its investigation remains ongoing.