Court Report: Assault, burglary, PPD and more drug charges

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 40-year-old male who has a pending criminal case in District Court was arrested by police last month on allegations of multiple assaults of different individuals, as well as robbery.

When questioned by police after he was arrested, the defendant, Faasolo Alesana said that he did these things because of personal problems with his girlfriend, who is the mother of his three children.

During a body search, police discovered illegal drugs in the defendant’s possession.

According to the government the incident took place on Feb. 19, 2022, in the early morning hours. It was reported by an employee at a warehouse in the Tafuna area who saw the allegedly assault and was now shouting profanities.

He also threatened a taxi driver and challenged him to a fight saying that he would knock him down and kill him. The male was later identified as Faasolo Alesana, the defendant in this matter.

Responding police officers were unable to locate the defendant, despite the witness directing them towards the Lions Park area, as the last area to where he saw Alesana walking.

However, the responding officers while in search for Alesana in the Industrial Park, Lions Park, prison, and Pala Lagoon area, met up with several people at different times who had run-ins with the defendant, which included threats, assaults and two instances of robbery.

The defendant was described as wearing a red shirt and black shorts.

Officers were able to review video footage from the warehouse security camera and got a clear view of one of the assaults.

Three months later, the warehouse employee spotted the defendant standing outside of a store parking lot in the Tafuna area and immediately alerted TPS police, who arrived and arrested the defendant and transported him to the substation for further investigation.

During pat down, police found two cut-up straws containing a white crystalline substance in his right pocket.

When asked about the incident that happened in February of this year, Alesana admitted to his actions and blamed it on personal problems his long-time girlfriend was having an affair.

Alesana also told police that the drugs found in his possession were from a man in Vaitogi.

Alesana made his initial appearance in court last month.

He is charged with one count of robbery in the 2nd- degree; one count of unlawful possession of meth; one count of 2nd- degree assault; one count of stealing; all felonies, along with four misdemeanor charges.

Bail is set at $15,000.

MAREKO TUPUFIA

The government has charged a 35-year-old man, who has a long criminal history, with unlawful possession of illegal drugs, public peace disturbance, and attempted burglary, for trying to break into a store in Tafuna.

Mareko Tupufia made his initial appearance in Court last month. He is charged in two separate cases: attempted stealing and 3rd- degree property damage in the first case; and unlawful possession of meth and unlawful possession of marijuana in the second case.

Bond for Tupufia is set at $10,000.

According to the government, cops were tipped off by a man who reported that a male tried to break into a store in Tafuna by using a hammer and other tools in an attempt to open the lock of the back door on Mar. 29, 2022.

Police approached Tupufia and asked if he could come with them to the station, however he ran behind a store and a foot chase ensued. Tupufia was eventually apprehended and transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for questioning.

Prior to being taken to the TPS, a body search was conducted and two cut-up straws containing a white crystalline substance and one small stamp-sized baggie containing a green leafy substance were found inside his left pocket.

Tupufia told police he got the meth and marijuana from a friend, whose identity he did not reveal. When asked about the alleged attempted store break-in, Tupufia told police it was his male cousin who did it, not him.

Investigators are also looking into another burglary involving another store in the Tafuna area not far away from the location of the store where a witness allegedly saw the defendant trying to break in.

Tupufia strongly denied any knowledge regarding this alleged burglary, too and further told investigators that he heard about the attempted burglary from his friends and he strongly believes that his cousin by the name of “Henry” was involved in that matter, not him.

TAULAGI SOOULA

A father of five was arrested again last month on the allegation that he violated conditions of his 5-year probation, which was handed down by the High Court 4 years ago.

Taulagi Sooula, who has been in custody since his arrest last month pursuant to an arrest warrant, appeared in High Court last month for a preliminary examination. Sooula told the court that he tested positive for meth when he took a drug test during his monthly visit to the Probation office on Feb. 16, 2022.

Sooula said he smoked meth so he could gain strength to help with his daily routine.

According to Probation, this was the same excuse Sooula used when he tested positive for meth, on May 10, 2020. Sooula was remanded to custody without bail. A disposition hearing is set for next month.

Court records note that on June 23, 2020, Sooula was ordered by the Court to serve out the remaining 7 months of a prison term, although he was allowed to work during government work-hours.

Sooula had been convicted of assaulting a man from Malaeimi with a rock and sentenced in January 2019. He only served 13 months in prison before he was released and the court waived the remaining 7 months, as long as he complied with conditions of probation

At his probation review hearing in December 2020, Sooula apologized and sought a chance to remain out of jail so he could be with his family. He promised he would not violate any more conditions of his probation.

Sooula was told during that hearing that the court had not forgotten the seriousness of his crime; but nonetheless, Sooula was given another chance at that time.

PELETI FIATAU

A driver of a vehicle pulled over by cops for not stopping at a stop sign is charged for violating local drug laws after cops discovered two cut-up straws containing meth inside his vehicle.

Peleti Fiatau made his initial appearance in Court last month.

He is charged with a single count of unlawful possession of meth, a felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than 5 nor more than 10 years, a fine of up to $20,000.

Bail is set at $5,000.

THE CASE

The incident is said to have taken place on May 9, 2022, in the afternoon, when a truck that did not stop at a stop sign was pulled over.

The driver was identified as Peleti Fiatau, the defendant in this matter and he was found to not have a driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle or any form of identification.

It was while Fiatau was getting out his vehicle to be taken to the TPS for further questioning that officers immediately discovered 3 empty small stamp-sized baggies commonly used to store meth on the floor mat of the driver’s side, about which Fiatau denied knowing anything.

Two cut-up straws containing a white crystalline substance were discovered in the truck. (The white crystalline substance tested positive for meth.)

The driver was transported to the TPS for further investigation where he was Mirandized. He made a statement explaining the incident, which led to his forgetting to stop at the sign. He stated that he had no knowledge about the drugs found in his truck or the paraphenalia.

He was later transported to the TCF where he was booked and confined.

VAILI TANUMALEU

A man convicted of unlawful possession of illegal drugs was released from the TCF last month for 90 days to seek and secure gainful employment.

If Vaili Tanumaleu is unable to secure gainful employment, the court ordered him to report back to the TCF to serve the remaining balance of his period of detention.

Tanumaleu, who had been in custody unable to post a $5,000 surety bond, appeared in court last month for sentencing.

After considering mitigating factors from both parties, along with the defendant’s statement, the court sentenced Tanumaleu to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,000. Execution of the sentence was suspended and he was placed on probation for 5 years subject to several conditions.

He is to undertake a period of detention of 20 months without any release per norm, including serving 243 days forthwith, and is credited for the time he served while awaiting the outcome of his matter.

Tanumaleu is to be released for a period of 90 days during which time he is to secure and seek gainful employment — which cannot be family farming, as the court doesn’t consider it gainful employment.

If unable to get a job, he’s ordered back to jail to serve the balance of his detention. He’s also subject to usual probation restrictions, including ‘staying clean’. The court also ordered him to make sure to pay his $2,000 fine.

Tanumaleu is not to be considered by the Warden as a trustee, if he does go back to jail.

Of note, traffic violations will also be considered another violation of conditions of his probation.

Tanumaleu was originally stopped by traffic officers for driving a vehicle that had too many lights on the front end of it.