Hågat, Guam – Nathan Jon Ojeda was sentenced on Friday to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole, in addition to a consecutive 25 years, for the fatal shooting of Anthony “AJ” H. Mendiola in Hågat. The sentence comes nearly a year after the Jan. 4, 2023 shooting. Presiding Judge Alberto Lamorena III handed down the sentence against Ojeda for aggravated murder with a special allegation of the use of a deadly weapon, after a jury found Ojeda guilty of all charges three months earlier.
Attorney General Douglas Moylan stated, “This type of crime is the ultimate offense to our people. Deterrence occurs when would-be criminals experience bad consequences for their bad acts. This sentence is another victory by this ‘toughest on crime’ AG’s Office.” The judge emphasized that a lesser sentence would diminish the seriousness of Ojeda’s crime of shooting down the victim in cold blood, as stated in the AG’s press release.
Assistant Attorney General Basil O’Mallan, along with Assistant Attorney General Sean Brown, prosecuted the case, committing to protecting the community and fighting to imprison individuals who would cause harm. Court documents described a shoot-out on San Vicente Avenue in Hågat, with a witness reporting that Ojeda fired shots from a purple Jeep. When police arrived at the scene, they found Mendiola unresponsive in his yard with multiple gunshots in his torso. He was declared dead at the Naval Hospital later that evening.
In a case like this, violent crimes leading to death require a tough AG and team to ensure justice and deter other potential perpetrators, stated the AG. Police later found the purple Jeep at Ojeda’s house and discovered 9 mm casings in the vehicle, matching the ammunition located at the shooting scene. The people thank the victim’s family and friends for their courage in testifying at the sentencing and wish them healing after this heartrending incident.
In summary, Nathan Jon Ojeda faced justice for the aggravated murder of Anthony “AJ” Mendiola, with the presiding judge delivering a sentence of life in prison without parole, plus a consecutive 25 years. The case, which involved a shoot-out on San Vicente Avenue in Hågat, led to a guilty verdict after three months of trial, bringing some closure to the victim’s family and friends. The tough stance taken by the Attorney General and the prosecuting team reaffirms their commitment to protecting the community and ensuring justice is served in such heinous crimes.