Trial of Dr. Ugochukwu Akoma to Begin with Jury Selection on Friday, July 19

Trial for Dr. Ugochukwu Akoma to Begin Friday After Attorney General’s Office Appoints New Prosecutor

In a dramatic turn of events, the Office of the Attorney General has appointed Gloria Ann L. Rudolph as the new prosecutor to take on the case of Dr. Ugochukwu Akoma, who is facing charges of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The trial is set to begin at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 19, with jury selection scheduled to take place.

Rudolph, the acting chief prosecutor for the AG’s office, stepped in at the last minute to handle the trial after the departure of previous attorneys Randall Albright and Steven John Coaty. Despite the short notice, Rudolph is prepared to take on the challenging case.

The trial comes after a previous attempt in April 2024 ended in a mistrial due to evidentiary issues that led to the exclusion of much of the government’s evidence. Akoma, a family physician, was accused of groping a female patient and forcing her to touch his groin area over his pants in October 2021.

In a surprising move, the AG’s office appealed a decision by Judge Alberto E. Tolentino to deny the defendant a full and future dismissal. Defense attorney Jay Arriola expressed frustration at the delay caused by the appeal, stating that his client could not afford any further delays.

Despite the appeal, Tolentino has decided to proceed with the trial, with jury selection set to begin at 1 p.m. on Friday. The case has garnered significant attention and is expected to be closely watched as it unfolds in the Superior Court of Guam.