Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA —A 21-year-old man from Malaeimi accused of having sex with a 13-year-old girl multiple times has entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Kose Logova’a appeared in High Court yesterday morning for his Change of Plea hearing. He was represented by Public Defender Michael White, while prosecuting the case was Assistant Attorney General (ASG) Christy Dunn.

Logova’a, who has remained in custody unable to post his surety bond of $10,000 was charged with 2 counts of rape and 2 counts of sodomy, both class B felonies, punishable by imprisonment for a term not less than 5 years nor more than 15 years; 4 counts of 1st degree sexual abuse, a class D felony punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both, and 2 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

However, in a plea agreement with the government, Logova’a pled guilty to 2 counts of 1st degree of sexual abuse.

According to terms of the plea agreement, Logova’a admits that on April 18 and June 22, 2018, he touched the private parts of a 13-year-old girl for the purpose of sexual gratification.

Both parties recommended to the court to place Logova’a on probation for a period of five years under the conditions that he has to register as a sex offender and to make sure he undergoes an HIV test first, before he departs the territory and remains outside of its border.

Logova’a is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 14, 2018 for sentencing.