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	Three Ministers Don't Want to Testify in Child Sex Abuse Case By Ferdie De LA Torre Saipan Tribune May 10, 2011 http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=109303 Three ministers or elders of the Tinian congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses are asking the Superior Court to quash the government's subpoena that commands them to appear at a jury trial of a man accused of sexually abusing a girl. Bob Morie, Emyl Lumba, and Dwight Manglona stated in their motion that the subpoena would be burdensome and oppressive since it requires the disclosure of privileged and protected information. Morie, Lumba, and Manglona asserted that the subpoena would require them to testify and reveal privileged confessions, admissions, information, and or confidential communications that are privileged under the Federal Rules of Evidence. Suspect Geoffrey K. Cabrera, 27, through court-appointed counsel Joseph N. Camacho, joined in the ministers' motion. The ministers said it is the religious belief and practice of Jehovah's Witnesses, based upon Scripture and tradition, that elders must maintain in strict confidence any church communications connected with spiritual counseling and that congregants expect their communications to elders will remain confidential. Saipan Tribune learned that the jury trial of Cabrera began yesterday at the Tinian Superior Court. Associate Judge David A. Wiseman is presiding. The alleged victim testified yesterday. Both the alleged victim and defendant are members of Jehovah's Witnesses. Assistant attorneys general Russell Lorfing and Tiberius Mocanu yesterday moved to dismiss one count of sexual assault in the first degree. The remaining charge is one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree. The jury trial of Cabrera will continue today, Tuesday.
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