Court accepts plea agreements in numerous cases

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 25-year-old man accused of breaking into a home in Pago Pago and stealing property from inside the house has entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Viliamu Talitiga, who has been in custody since his arrest, unable to post a $10,000 surety bond, appeared in court last week for a Change of Plea hearing.

Talitiga was initially charged with second-degree burglary and stealing, both class C felonies, along with trespassing, a class A misdemeanor. However, under a plea agreement, which was accepted by the court, Talitiga pled guilty to stealing. The remaining charge was dismissed.

With his guilty plea, Talitiga admits that on Dec. 10, 2020 he stole several items from a home in Pago Pago without the owner’s permission.

According to terms of the plea agreement, an eyewitness who contacted the DPS Fagatogo Central Police Station told officers he saw the defendant enter the home by breaking the back door and entering with a big green backpack, which was full of stuff when he exited the home a few moments later.

According to the government, the missing items included clothes, jewelry, speakers, a laptop, two new cell phones, 3 pair of sport shoes, and $291 in cash.

None of the items were returned to the owner.

The government is recommending probation and restitution of $1,119.

Talitiga is scheduled for sentencing on Apr. 8

TAALOGA LEVAULA

One of the four inmates charged for escaping from confinement in January 2018 has entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Tafito Levaula, 25, was charged in 3 separate cases.

He was charged with stealing in the first case, and several charges in a second case: 4 counts of stealing, 3 counts of first degree burglary, second degree burglary, escape from confinement, and alluding police officers.

In the third case, he was charged with escape from confinement.

Under a plea agreement with the government, Levaula pled guilty to stealing in the first case; and two counts of stealing and one count of first-degree burglary in the second case.

In return, the remaining charges were dismissed.

With his guilty pleas, Levaula admits that on Oct. 7, 2020 while he was inside a store in Tafuna, he stole a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 tablet, worth more than $100

He also admits that on Oct. 30, 2020 he stole several electronic items including an Apple iPad, a computer scanner, and a Samsung tablet from another store in Tafuna.

Levaula confirms that on Nov. 17, 2020 he entered a home in Tafuna in the middle of the night and stole several items including two television sets, a laptop, two speakers, a bag, 4 pairs of shoes, a big fine mat, and an Apple iPad, worth more than $5,000

Levaula is scheduled to appear in court Apr. 8 for sentencing.

He remains in custody at the TCF, unable to post a $30,000 surety bond.

FALELOA ALESANA

A man convicted of stealing was ordered to serve 28 months at the TCF and pay restitution of $740 to the victim, as conditions of a 7-year probation.

Faleloa Alesana, 26, appeared in court last week for sentencing.

He has been in custody since his arrest last year, unable to post a $10,000 surety bond.

Alesana was initially charged with stealing and first-degree burglary, both class C felonies.

Under a plea agreement with the government, he pled guilty to stealing and admitted that on the night of Aug. 21, 2020, he unlawfully entered an Asian store in Tafuna and stole several items, some of which he sold to his friend.

When given the chance to speak, Alesana apologized and begged for a second chance so he can return home and care for his family, and serve his village and church.

He said his drug problem made him do what he did, and the 12 months he has spent in prison has taught him a lesson. He now realizes that there is no place like home.

Alesana was sentenced to 7 years probation with the condition that he serve 28 months at TCF. He is also to pay a $1,000 fine and restitution of $740.

Due to his illegal immigration status, upon release from detention, Alesana is to depart the territory and remain outside of its borders for the duration of probation.

A copy of the judgment and sentence is to be forwarded to Immigration, to ensure that Alesana's name is on the lookout list.

FRANCIS LOLENESE

A 41-year-old man from Samoa accused of assaulting another man has pled guilty.

Francis Lolenese who has been in custody since his arrest last year, unable to post a $15,000 surety bond, appeared in High Court last week for a Change of Plea.

Lolenese was initially charged with second-degree assault and stealing, both felonies, and one count of disturbing the public peace. But under a plea agreement, he pled guilty to second-degree assault and the remaining charges were dismissed.

Lolenese admits that on Oct. 18, 2020 he had an argument with James Tolovaa, during which he punched Tolovaa in the jaw, causing him to fall to the ground. While Tolovaa was down, Lolenese punched him again on the face and kicked his back multiple times.

According to the government, Lolenese and Tolovaa share the same land for plantation purposes. On the day in question, Lolenese was disappointed when he discovered that Tolovaa had stolen his harvest and sold it to the neighbors.

Sentencing is set for Apr. 15.

JERRY LAUOFO

A 42-year-old taxi driver accused of unlawful possession of a glass pipe containing methamphetamine (meth) has pled guilty.

Ben Lauofo appeared in High Court last week for his Change of Plea.

Lauofo, who was released on a $5,000 surety bond, was initially charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth, a class D felony punishable by not less than or more than 10 years, and a fine between $5,000 and $20,000.

But a plea agreement with the government, allowed Lauofo to plead guilty to a lesser, amended charge, a class D felony, punishable by up to 5 years in jail, a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

By his guilty plea, Lauofo admits that on Nov. 14, 2020, he unlawful possessed a glass pipe containing meth.

The government claims that on the day of the incident, a female passenger contacted the TPS for assistance regarding the defendant’s taxi which she caught that morning. She told police that the defendant’s taxi on the way to taking her to her destination stopped his taxi at Lions Park beside another taxi. Lauofo exited his taxi and went to the other taxi and spoke with the driver for about 10 minutes.

Lauofo then came back to his taxi with something in his left hand. The female passenger noticed that the object in Lauofo’s hand looked like a glass pipe. Lauofo hid the object under his seat before they left the park.

After Lauofo dropped the female passenger off, the passenger wrote down his taxi’s license plate number, before she called the police.

Police spotted Lauofo’s taxi in front of a store in Nuuuli, and they approached him and asked if he could come with them to the TPS to discuss something important.

After a brief conversation with police, Lauofo agreed to a search of his vehicle. During the search, police discovered a glass pipe containing meth hidden under the driver’s seat. When police officers asked Lauofo what was inside the glass pipe, the defendant replied in Samoa, “o le aisa” (it’s ice — Samoan street name for meth).

ALEKI LOGOTAEAO

A 35-year-old man accused of using a hard instrument to cause head injuries to another man has pled guilty in court.

Aleki Logotaeao was initially charged with felony first-degree assault, punishable by life in prison or at least 30 years in jail; but under a plea agreement with the government, the defendant pled guilty to second-degree assault, still a felony, but punishable by no more than 5 years imprisonment, or a fine of not more than $5,000 or both.

With his guilty plea, Logotaeao admits that sometime on Oct. 25, 2020, he caused serious injuries to another man, who is his neighbor by using a rock to hit him on the head several times.

The government claims that the victim suffered a severe cut on his head, which needed 12 stitches. Logotaeao and the victim were drinking together when the incident occurred

Logotaeao remains in custody at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) unable to post his $10,000 surety bond. He’s scheduled to appear in court next month for sentencing.