Court sentences Former GPD Officer Paul Santos to 15 Years in Prison for Rape

August 19, 2022- Tamuning, Guam- Judge Vernon P. Perez sentenced Paul John Santos, a former police officer convicted of raping a woman at a Tamuning hotel in 2014, to 15 years incarceration at the Department of Corrections.

At trial, the victim testified that Santos came to her hotel room wearing his GPD uniform, told her she could go to jail for prostitution, and that he could take her to jail and she’d never see her family again. The victim also testified that Santos forced her to perform oral sex, forced her to have sex with him, then told her that “he was doing [her] a favor” and that she “should be grateful because he was doing [her] a favor.”

The jury found Santos guilty of multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct, bribery, official misconduct, and abetting prostitution. He was sentenced in April 2017 to 21 years incarceration for his crimes. In an opinion issued in April 2020, the Supreme Court of Guam vacated three of the convictions, but upheld the remaining charges. He must self-surrender on September 15, 2022.

Prosecutor Leonardo M. Rapadas handled the hearing today. He said, “We are glad to see this case come to end after so many years, and pray that it will provide closure to the victim.”

“We want to recognize the victim’s bravery in this case,” said Attorney General Leevin T. Camacho. “We hope the court’s sentence sends a message that if you abuse your position as a law enforcement officer to commit a crime, you will be held accountable.”