A repeat offender convicted of possessing a stolen firearm linked to a violent Dededo assault was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison, a term the Attorney General's Office said fell far short of what the case warranted.
Judge Alberto E. Tolentino sentenced Rodney Charles Sapp Jr. to the statutory maximum of three years for possession of a firearm without a firearms identification card and the statutory minimum of five years for committing a felony while on felony release, with the terms to run consecutively.
Prosecutors had sought the maximum consecutive sentence of 30 years.
"We strongly disagree with the Judge's sentence," Attorney General Douglas Moylan said. "My Administration remains firmly committed to a 'Toughest AG on Crime' approach and will continue to pursue maximum accountability and deterrence for violent repeat offenders who endanger our community."
A jury convicted Sapp on Sept. 23, 2025, after deliberating approximately two hours. Evidence showed that on July 8, 2025, Sapp took a firearm from a victim during a group assault in Dededo, fled the scene with it and stashed it at a residence. The victim, suffered severe facial swelling, lacerations, broken bones near his right eye and minor spinal damage.
Court records show Sapp was on felony release at the time of the offense and had prior convictions for assault, drug possession and DUI. Prosecutors noted he had a long history of failing to appear in court and failing to complete court-ordered treatment programs.