crime

3rd victim dies after Guam rampage; suspect held on $2 mil bail

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So if DeSoto gets someone to pay $2 million, he goes free?

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Other news agencies are reporting this fiend was high on bath salts. Since this drug can cause spontaneous flashbacks and psychotic relapses, why was bail even allowed? He could go off the deep end and start hallucinating again at any time. It should have been a padded cell and straight jacket for this prune brain.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Why putting a price? People like this don't deserve any option at all.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

So if DeSoto gets someone to pay $2 million, he goes free?

@ Serrano: For him to be able to walk out of jail, someone would have to put up at least 10% of the bail amount. So on a $2 million dollar bail, he would need to come up with at least $200,000. This can be secured by putting up property or cash. In the event that he skips bail, then that money that he put ups gets forefeited. So the bail bondsman gets to keep it, and people like "Dog the Bounty Hunter" come into play and try to find the fugitive.

5 ( +4 / -0 )

This filth should receive what he gave to the public.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

What a terrible story. Dear 8 month old boy, I hope you have a father who loves you and a chance at a happy life. You have no mother because lunatics are allowed to roam free.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Alphaape Feb. 14, 2013 - 08:44AM JST on a $2 million dollar bail, he would need to come up with at least $200,000. This can be secured by putting up property or cash. In the event that he skips bail, then that money that he put ups gets forefeited.

There should be no bail on this case. What if his parents or friends can come up with ten percent of the bail money? Even though there is restrictions for release, what if he left Guam to places like Philippines? The authorities will have hard time finding him. He can get lost for decades.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

The murderer stabbed her son but not her daughter because Rie Sugiyama died protecting her. Her daughter is 3 years old. Rie shielded her daughter with her own body.

13 ( +12 / -0 )

A video of the brief court proceedings posted online by the Pacific Daily News shows De Soto, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, telling Tolentino he has no job<

unemployment seems to be at 10.9 percent in Guam down from 13 percent with more tourism jobs increasing. what other choices of jobs are available? http://pidp.org/pireport/2012/December/12-28-16.htm

availability of drugs in Guam: http://www.stripes.com/news/study-crystal-meth-most-available-most-abused-illegal-drug-on-guam-1.12079

It is a terrible tragedy and act of undeniable cruelty. My question is aside from this crime: what is it like to live on an isolated island and be part of a military and tourism-based economy? Soldiers and training in one section and shop and eat tourism in another section. What of the people in the middle? What is it like to have drug trafficking from other nations all around?

Why is that island destined to be the hotel of the Pacific? Who has a right to designate them as such? It must lead to some kind of bottled up stress that we can expect more of if we do not think more about the cause of the effect.

-7 ( +1 / -7 )

It must lead to some kind of bottled up stress that we can expect more of if we do not think more about the cause of the effect.

I think you may be jumping to conclusions. One incident is not indicative of the population as a whole.

13 ( +12 / -0 )

I think you may be jumping to conclusions. One incident is not indicative of the population as a whole.<

That's reassuring. Thank you. Now we can all rest and tell people to stop questioning, debating and discussing because one incident is not indicative of the population as a whole.

Thoughts go out to the families involved.

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

Guam has a low murder rate for Micronesia, according to wiki. It's only slightly higher than the murder rate in Japan.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Now we can all rest and tell people to stop questioning, debating and discussing because one incident is not indicative of the population as a whole.

There is questioning, debating and discussing and then there is painting a whole population with the brush filled with the paint of one mentally ill person. I am merely suggesting you are doing the latter.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Possibly the suspect has some serious brain abnormality which are psychologically induced or as a result of some brain tumor or substance. That may produce uncontrollable thoughts to kill peoples. Criminal action also is possible but less likely.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Alphaape, isn't the 10 percent actually the fee the bonding company charges? They get a non-returnable 10 percent fee for putting up the entire bail. And in case of jumping bail, they hire a bounty hunter so they won't be out the other 90 percent. This is how I see it, is that incorrect?

@sfjp, there is little chance he could get off Guam, unless he were to try to stowaway. You have to provide a passport or suitable ID to even go to the CNMI on an airplane. And the airlines would certainly be alerted to this. Portside is pretty secure, too.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Why is that island destined to be the hotel of the Pacific? Who has a right to designate them as such? It must lead to some kind of bottled up stress that we can expect more of if we do not think more about the cause of the effect.

I am a Guamanian. What happend is a shock to our island. We LOVE tourists, but we don't really like the military. That's why De Soto was beaten up by local inmates even in prison because he is giving a bad name to Guam.

Possibly the suspect has some serious brain abnormality which are psychologically induced or as a result of some brain tumor or substance. That may produce uncontrollable thoughts to kill peoples. Criminal action also is possible but less likely.

He was kicked out of two homes, he is troubled, and recently broke up with his girlfriend. It seems he did have mental issues unaddressed, many who knew him say he "snapped". But, what he did was a decision, criminal intent, a conscious decision. Now he will be punished. No excuse. We need justice for the families affected and also to make sure Guam is safe and happy for all tourists.

For him to be able to walk out of jail, someone would have to put up at least 10% of the bail amount. So on a $2 million dollar bail, he would need to come up with at least $200,000. This can be secured by putting up property or cash.

No one on Guam has any love for him. He was well-known because he made a video here: see 4:11 ...... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N3bg9sigyI

But really, no family member, ex-girlfriend, or local would want him out of prison. No one will want to bail him out.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

What a tragedy. I find offensive the fact that this murderer has the option of a bailout.

On a side note, after being poisoned by so many reports in JT of hideous women mistreating or killing their children, I am deeply moved by the woman who died protecting her children. I hope I can summon the same courage as she did if ever I have to be in a similar situation.

7 ( +7 / -1 )

A sad day for everyone.

My only solace, the attacker bloodied his lip and bruised the side of his face.... I can only hope it was someone who subdued him.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Rest in peace to the two victims. I hope they ramp up security cause its just not safe in the States anymore.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Bail?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Simply put, $2 Million bail means he won't be going anywhere. I don't know why the judge didn't deny bond in the first place.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

On a side note, after being poisoned by so many reports in JT of hideous women mistreating or killing their children, I am deeply moved by the woman who died protecting her children. I hope I can summon the same courage as she did if ever I have to be in a similar situation.

Couldn't agree with you more.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Joshua, he thinks of himself as a musician, huh? What a waste of talent then. Thanks for the link, at 4:11 and 5:20.

3 ( +2 / -0 )

Anyone else thinking "bath salts"? I beleive they sell all those "herbs" in Guam.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Hmmm... I had thought it was already three dead, and two of the three Japanese. Sorry to hear that it DID eventually become three dead when I was originally mistaken. This guy won't make bail, and he'll most certainly go to prison for the rest of his life. The three counts of murder alone will land him the max of 45 years, I believe, and he'll probably get the max on each count of aggravated assault, plus other charges. Lock him up for good.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Frankly speaking, as this guy has killed 3 people, premeditated murder without any doubt as to his guilt and identity, he should be put down like a mad dog. The world does not need him.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

What a horrible, horrible tragedy!! I do hope the good GUAMANIAN prisoners teach this dork a real good lessons behind bars!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Do they even have a prison in Guam to hold inmates for a long time? Maybe it's the bad Guamanian prisoners that should teach this guy a lesson. The good Guamanian prisoners might be too nice to him. Anyway, sad story. Nice island and very nice people in my experience. I was surprised, however, to hear Guamanians do not like the military. I thought they did. Maybe it's just like here in Okinawa, most do like the military and only a few do not. Well...I pray for all the victims.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

a 51-year-old woman listed in “guarded” condition, a 70-year-old woman in stable condition, and two girls in stable condition - a 3-month-old and an 8-month-old.

This guy needs a cold slow death.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I do not mean, of course, of course, to absolve the murderer even in the slightest, but I think it helps to understand the motivation so as to prevent further occurrence.

In this case the break down of the family and the high expectations (or high de-expectations) that the murderer had in romantic, male-female relationships seem to have been factors.

The murderer's mother seems to have been separated from her spouse, and may also have subsequently died. The murderer starred in a film (I heart GU" regarding the loss of love in which one of the catch phrases seems to have been something along the lines of "no woman no cry". The murderer lamented the loss of a previous girlfriend in poetry on his myspace blog. The murderer broke up from his recent girlfriend not long before the attack.

Even as the family and stable male female relationships disintegrate there are greater and greater expectations placed upon the same.

At least two mass murderers in Japan were, it is reported, motivated to commit their heinous acts due to maintain or create male-female relationships (the primary school stabbing murdered now executed, and the Akihabara stabbing murderer) . I have not investigated the motives of other recent murders, but perhaps, lovesick murderers are becoming more common.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

due to maintain -> due to their failure to maintain

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The murderer's mother seems to have been separated from her spouse

What this has to do with murder I have no idea. My parents are divorced and I had relationships go wrong in my early 20s but never did I consider for a second picking up a knife. I don't think anyone can "prevent further occurrences" by looking at these factors- they are far too common, you're probably looking at about 40% of the population of most countries there.

It would be a lot more practical to look at whether he had a history of mental illness.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Tom DeMickeFeb. 14, 2013 - 07:14PM JST

Do they even have a prison in Guam to hold inmates for a long time?

Guam does have a main jail facility in the area of Hagnata. Its main stay-keep are sentenced from anywhere from days to (in my recollection) 15 years~. The facility has 12 X 6 rooms (the largest) that are crowded with up to (at least) 6 + inmates, depending on volume. There are at least a few cells - broken off from the main hold building - that are built into a hillside that are, in purpose, isolation areas. The entire facility is also a 'stop over' for those who are in an international extradition/deportation process (which, to be candid, is how I am familiar with it) (on a side note, it is also the same facility where Ferdinand (sp?) Marcos was held in his extradition process). The majority of those held are for drugs or theft. The overcrowding occurs, usually, on (traditional/US) holidays, when the facility acts as a holding place for party revelers who took their celebrations a bit too far.

The treatment - you have to mind your p's and q's among general (indigenous) facility population. The running of the facility seems to adhere to Guam custom and US law. The court is US staffed. The magistrate is US, it is a modern US court facility. Entry into the facility is a very scary and humiliating experience (perhaps outside US protocol).

I mentioned the deportation process ... if you are deported from Japan, this is where the plane will land.

If that is of any interest.

I would seriously doubt this perp will have any contact with the general population.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Okay guys, he is not "guilty" until convicted in a court of law and therefore he has a "right" to "reasonable" bail. If the crime is sufficiently heinous or if there is perceived risk of flight (leaving Guam), a judge can deny bail or set bail very high (as in this case). While he is out on bail, assuming he can post bail, he will be monitored to be sure he does not leave the island.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@JoeBigs

"This guy needs a cold slow death."

I'd feel safer if you were locked up too.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Why are the Japanese press saying bail was set at 3,000,000 USD, or 2 oku 8 sen man JPY?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Joshua Segismundo,

Thank you for filling us in. It is hard to know what to think with information from outside sources. I feel sorry for all the people hurt, including the victims. But as you say for a country that depends on tourism anything that paints a bad picture hurts all those who depend on tourism. I run a shop that depends out our winter tourist from the snowed in parts of the United States. As I am near the mexican boarder, drug war stories do not help, so I do understand the worry about any bad news.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

guam is weeping ... this person who commited this henious crimes, does not appear to have random targets. so many people at the scene, why target " females, elderly, child, weak, tourists, japanese, ... ?" ... whynot "males, adults, teenagers, strong, workers, or JUST ANYONE RANDOMLY ?" ... and what is even so very unusual that after he was chased by ONE MALE, did not stab or hurt anyone while running ... but then when he stop he attacked a female with child ?" ... did he had bad run-ins with female visitors ? what do you think ?

prayers to the victims, families and even to those who witnessed the incident. god bless !

looking for answers and god's guidance

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japanese media is all over the mental issues facing the agressor since he used a knife. Had the aggressor used a gun it would be all about America's gun culture that spread to Guam etc etc. This crime just like all the knife crimes in China and Japan show that societies all contain sick individuals and it is they cannot be stopped... we can only ensure our safety by living our lives safely and with awarness while being prepared for our own self defense.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Lord please watch over the victims.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Just to let you guys know most of the locals wish we had the execution law. Some even wish we could send him to Japan. I for one can't believe this happened here. This is a place where everyone looks out for eachother. Where kids are thought of as blessings from God. He has destroyed our outlook on life. To hear about things like this is always happening somewhere else. Not here. I pray this was a result of drug use cuz I can't believe someone in his right mind would just do this.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Tori, It can happen anywhere.. and has nothing to do with the availability of steak knives or guns or baseball bats or cars that can be used as weapons. In a mass of a million people, there is always one sick person who snaps. Nothing can really be done about it except to have enough rams in the midst of the sheep to protect them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Where would he swim?

SerranoFeb. 14, 2013 - 07:13AM JST

So if DeSoto gets someone to pay $2 million, he goes free?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

His friends said he started doing "ice". After which his behaviour started to change. The before and after drug photos are completely different. Drugs ruin lives!!!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Guam is a crap hole and why Japanese consider it place to go on vacation is beyond me. I lived there for two years and hated it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

All those on Guam who are worried the tourists may stay away...should be worried.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@hobart, it's close, it's warm, and it's cheap to get there. You can have a mini vacation for under $300, airfare and hotel. It costs more to go to Okinawa. Brand name shopping and golf are cheaper than in Japan.

I don't envy the public defender who gets assigned this case. It's going to be his job to defend his client to the fullest. He will bring up personal issues, possible drug use, and the all important "abused as a child" ploy to give his client the best possible defense. And don't rule out the insanity defense. It's still going to be a local jury and given enough sad stories on the stand, all they have to do is have one juror who has sympathy and than could have a major impact. I don't think it will be a slam dunk. What worries me is that if convicted it's possible he could be out in 20 years, when he is 41.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The community is like any other with crime. But this was the first one where there's no connection. Every other crime here at this level has a connection. Family falls apart the Dad takes all their lives and bystanders. If your trying to Mack the wrong person that's probably your body found hanging. There's always a connection. This... This is the first.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

. I don't think it will be a slam dunk

What's a "slam dunk"? Maybe some of us would prefer to see a proper trial and a reasonable sentence, taking into account mitigating circumstances. This isn't some kind of medieval witch-trial.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@lucabrasi, a slam dunk meaning that there will not be a quick and easy resolution as some seem to believe. This will be a very lenghty and painful process. Even though he was caught at the scene it will not be an open and shut case. Notice I said if convicted, not when convicted. Where did I ever suggest a witch trial or frontier justice? Where did I ever suggest that he has no rights?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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