By Troy Torres, Johnnie Rosario and Eric Rosario
KANDIT NEWS
Police responded to King’s Restaurant in Compadres Mall in Harmon this afternoon to take a police complaint for illegal gambling occurring inside the restaurant.
Guam resident Jesse Mendiola said he called police to file a police complaint after witnessing gambling devices inside the restaurant and seeing children touching the machines.
He said it is difficult to control the area because there are no physical barriers keeping children away from the gambling machines.
Officers from Dededo Precinct responded and investigated the machines. The officer then asked Mendiola to follow him to Dededo precinct to finish their investigation.
According to Mendiola, he filed a criminal complaint against the individuals and businesses based on the law prohibiting gambling machines from being inside premises that have minors under the age of 18 on site.
Mendiola named as suspects:
1. Guam Music, Inc.
2. Gil Shinohara - Guam Music, Inc.
3. Connie Jo Brennan Shinohara - Guam Music, Inc.
4. John Torres - Guam Music, Inc.
5. Sheila Torres - Guam Music, Inc.
6. Thomas A.P. Tajalle - Guam Music, Inc.
7. Lauran Bromley - Guam Music, Inc.
8. Kings Restaurant Compadres Dededo
9. Global Food Services LLC dba. GFS Group
10. Lucy M. Alcorn President/CEO, Global Food Services LLC
11. Clifford A. Guzman Vice President, Technical Operations, Global Food Services LLC
12. David A. Alcorn, Vice President, New Business Development, Global Food Services LLC
Mendiola’s police complaint alleges violations of the following laws:
§ §7163. Fraudulent Acts of the Guam Gaming Control Act as a felony
§ 19 GCA §5117. Jurisdiction Over Adults as a misdemeanor
§ 9 GCA §4.55. Guilt Established by Causing or Aiding Innocent Party in Commission of Crime
§ 9 GCA §4.80. Criminal Liability of Corporations
Specifically, Mendiola alleges that having the gambling machines inside the restaurant are a violation of the Guam Gaming Control Act § 7156 (d) (e) (f) which states:
Ҥ 7156. Age of Participants - Violation as Misdemeanor
(d) It is unlawful for any licensee to permit the presence of any person who is less than eighteen (18) years of age within the premises where gaming is being conducted.
(e) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section commits a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided for by law.
(f) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section with a person under eighteen (18) years of age shall be prosecuted for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and shall be punished as provided for by law.”
Mendiola said the police were very receptive to his police complaint.
Mendiola said the police officers informed him they would be continuing their investigation and reviewing all of the laws regarding the location of these gambling machines in establishments that allow children inside.
