Baker fails to deliver wedding cake, arrested

A baker allegedly failed to deliver a wedding cake she was paid to bake, which led to her arrest. The baker, Sianini Foster of Pago Pago is charged with stealing, a class C felony punishable by imprisonment for up to seven years, a fine of up to $5,000 or both. The defendant made her initial appearance in the District Court yesterday morning.

Foster is held on bail of $2,500 and is represented by Assistant Public Defender Karen Shelley. According to the government’s case, on Dec. 15, 2012 a woman filed a complaint with the police, where she told police that she had paid Foster $920 to make a wedding cake, but on the wedding day the family was told there was no cake and the defendant could not be reached.

Court filings say the victim made three separate payments, with the first payment of  $400 on Nov. 9, 2012, a second payment of $300 and the final payment in the amount of $200 plus a $20 tip, was made on Dec. 7, 2012

The victim claims the defendant was informed of the wedding date, and the time the cake needed to be delivered. According to court documents, the victim told police that the defendant said she would deliver the cake and set it up. 

However, on the day of the wedding, no cake was delivered and the defendant could not be reached.

Police were able to locate the defendant, who is a cook with the Department of Education, but who also bakes wedding cakes in her free time, using her mother’s business license.

Foster confirmed that the victim did pay her $920 for a wedding cake for the victim’s nephew; and also that she was paid with the three separate payments and $20 tip.

She told police that she deposited the first two payments into her personal bank account, which is her normal practice when handling money she receives from wedding cakes, but she used the third payment for her personal use.

Court fillings do not state what happened — why Foster did not deliver the wedding cake on the wedding day.

The Preliminary Examination hearing for this matter is now scheduled to be held this Thursday. District Court Judge John Ward informed the defendant that this hearing is for the court to determine if the government has sufficient evidence to have this case bound over to the High Court.