by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Retired assistant fire chief Roy San Nicolas Aguigui was sentenced to three years with six months to be served behind bars during a hearing this morning. Aguigui pleaded guilty to theft by deception and admitted to signing-off on time sheets for his common law wife, Rose Castro, so that she could receive assistance from the Department of Public Health through the Community Work Experience Program for several years.

Castro was assigned to work at the Guam Fire Department, but never did. Instead, she told police she falsified the documents so that she could obtain public assistance.

The 55-year-old Aguigui told the court today, "I am truly sorry for what I have done. I brought embarrassment to my family, my friends; and more importantly, brought discredit to the professionals of the Guam Fire Department." He and his defense attorney, Mike Phillips, asked the court to take into consideration his unblemished career in GFD and his many contributions to the community. They asked that he be given a suspended sentence and instead be given probation.

Aguigui said he didn't want to retire saying he only did so because he "thought it was the right thing to do". The retired assistant fire chief admitted that he abused his administrative authority and made a "stupid decision" and thought he was doing it to support his son that he shares with Castro.

After weighing letters of community support and hearing Aguigui's apology and reviewing the plea agreement, Judge Elizabeth Barrett Anderson sentenced Aguigui to three years incarceration, but ordered that he only serve a half-year behind bars followed by three years parole. Aguigui was also sentenced to serve 1,000 hours of community service. He was also ordered to write two letters of apology, which will constitute 100 hours of service. The letters of apology must be written to the employees of the Guam Fire Department and the Department of Public Health. The judge said the sentence sends a message of "fairness and justice".

Aguigui needed time to address personal matters and the court ordered him to surrender to the Guam Department of Corrections by 6pm on Friday, April 23.