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Woman charged with sex with minor accepts govt plea deal

A woman charged with having sex with a minor boy has accepted the plea offer by the government.  Carmen Galumalemana Hunkin, in her 30s, faced charges of rape, deviate sexual assault, sexual abuse first degree, sodomy and child endangerment.

 

According to the plea agreement, defendant is to enter a guilty plea to sexual abuse first degree, and by her plea of guilty defendant admits that from October 2013 to July 2014 she touched the minor with the purpose of gratifying her sexual desires.

 

Defendant further admits that the minor was 16 years old and that she knew his age. The plea goes on to say that defendant admits that with regard to the offense, her conduct was without legal justification or excuse. Upon acceptance of Hunkin’s pleas of guilty the government moved for the court to dismiss the remaining charges.

 

The agreement also says that both parties are free to make their own sentencing recommendations, however defendant understands and accepts that sentencing recommendations are not binding on the court, which has the sole responsibility for deciding an appropriate sentence within the limits of the law.

 

She also understands and accepts that in the event the court decrees a different sentence than that recommended by counsel, defendant will not be allowed to withdraw her plea of guilt.

 

According to the government’s case, the sex crimes are alleged to have occurred a few years ago and a warrant for her arrest, which was issued a while back, was not served until much later.

 

The defendant apparently was off island but it wasn’t until she came in to the District Court to get a clearance that court staff flagged her for having a pending arrest warrant. The police were then contacted.

 

Court documents say the sister of the alleged victim (referred to as “J.A.”) had first alerted the authorities because she was concerned with her 16-year-old brother’s change in behavior. The sister said her brother had been a straight-A student, but lately would not go to school and was getting D's and F's. She also said he had begun running away from home.

 

Investigating officer Det. Vaivasa Wells spoke to the sister, as well as friends who alleged they had witnessed the pair together, and one alleged the two were seen having intercourse. One of J.A.’s friends also told the police officers that J.A. said he wanted to get Carmen pregnant.

 

According to court documents, Carmen was advised of her constitutional rights and she agreed to give the officers a statement. “Carmen stated she was in a sexual relationship with J.A. She stated she knew he was only 16 years of age. She stated that her marriage had been abusive and J.A. seemed to understand her problems.”

 

She went on to state that the relationship began in October 2013 and that she had tried to break up with J.A. but “then he would threaten suicide so she would make up with him.”

 

She stated J.A. “also became abusive to her.”

 

In court filings, Carmen stated that she knew she could be charged with statutory rape because of their age difference, and that the last time she had sex with J.A. was July 20, 2014.