Yan tentatively set for Dec. 14 jury trial on 13 criminal charges

Longgui Yan, also known as “Andy,” is tentatively scheduled to stand trial Dec. 14 on 13 criminal charges involving methamphetamine, firearms, and an alleged assault.

Superior Court Presiding Judge Joseph N. Camacho took up Yan's case last Oct. 14, with Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds representing the government and Chief Public Defender Douglas Hartig appearing for the defense.

Yan, who remains in Department of Corrections custody, was present during the hearing.

The court discussed a Dec. 14 jury trial beginning at 9am and scheduled a pretrial conference for Nov. 18 at 10am to determine whether the case is ready to proceed.

Speaking exclusively to Marianas Press afterward, Hinds said Yan's case would most likely proceed to trial Dec. 14.

He said the Nov. 18 pretrial conference should provide a clearer indication of whether the trial will push through as scheduled.

Yan faces 13 charges after prosecutors added a methamphetamine trafficking count to his original charges involving drugs, firearms, and an alleged assault.

On Sept. 30, Camacho found probable cause to hold Yan on the additional trafficking charge following testimony from Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Bureau detective Joannalyn Laniyo.

The judge also directed prosecutors to file a second amended information specifying the gross weight of the drugs involved in the trafficking allegation.

The other charges include assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, disturbing the peace, unlawful transportation and discharge of a firearm, possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm without a Firearm Owner's Identification Card, unlawful possession of ammunition, and improper storage of a firearm.

The local case stems from an Aug. 24 incident involving Yang Peiting, whom prosecutors identified as a household member of Yan.

According to court documents, Yan allegedly pointed a pistol at Yang, pressed its barrel against her chin, and threatened to kill her.

Prosecutors also allege that Yan struck Yang on the head and pinned her down on a bed the following day.

During a subsequent search of Yan's As Perdido residence, investigators allegedly recovered 41.23 gross grams of suspected methamphetamine, a digital scale, plastic bags, and a .22-caliber Ruger rifle.

Yan is also the subject of a separate federal criminal complaint involving allegations of threatening communications and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Those allegations stem from the same August incident at Kiss Bar along Beach Road in Garapan.

Yan remains in custody after failing to post $100,000 cash bail in his local case.

The charges against Yan remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.