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Judge Patea comes down hard on attorney’s who can’t keep track of their clients

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reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — District Court Judge Elvis P. Patea did not mince words earlier this week when addressing the issue of clients not keeping in contact with their lawyers.

"If you can't deal with your client, we'll take care of it," Patea told Assistant Public Defender Anna Wells. "I can revoke his OR (release) and put him in jail so you can go see him there," he stated.

The comments were made following Patea's ruling to issue bench warrants and bonds of $500 each for Don Tauta and Ete Aumua, who were not present in court yesterday for their scheduled pretrial conference.

"Where is your client?" Patea asked Wells. For the past month, 'no shows' for court appearances have become routine. But even when defendants do show up, continuances are often requested because the defense attorney needs time to speak with her clients.

Some don't make contact with her while others cannot be located because contact information is not updated.

There are too many continuances being requested so attorneys can review discovery and convey offers, said Patea, who noted that defendants who are released on their own recognizance are to comply with conditions that include being in close contact with their attorney.

It was noted yesterday that another defendant, Gaosi Sao — out on a $500 bond — who appeared yesterday for a pretrial conference, failed to appear in court during a previous scheduled hearing.

When asked, Sao told the court he was busy with family matters and he forgot about his court date. "One of the conditions of your release is to keep in contact with your attorney," Patea said. "We can't drag this out until you're ready. You have to keep up with the court's schedule."

After the calendar was complete, Patea told Assistant AG Mitchell and Assistant PD Wells that there are "too many continuances" being requested and if it has to do with their clients not complying, "the court can take care of them." However, he added, if it has to do with them — or their staff — not doing their job, they need to get on the ball.

LAUOLEFISO "MANU" NAEA

A man who has made it a habit not to show up for scheduled court appearances has been remanded to custody at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF).

Laiolefiso Naea, a.k.a. Manu appeared in District Court this past Tuesday morning on a bench warrant.

Presiding Judge Elvis P. Patea noted that Naea is facing charges in three separate cases and he failed to appear for scheduled hearings — for all three matters (Aug. 18, 2018; Sept. 18, 2018; and Jan. 19, 2019)

The warrant stands, and pretrial conferences — for all three cases — are set for Feb. 28.

WILLIAM LEDOUX

The case against William Ledoux is continued to Feb. 27 where a Change of Plea is expected to be announced.

Ledoux, an ASG Assistant Attorney General, is in court for three traffic violations including Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and careless driving.

Currently out on a $500 bond, Ledoux is represented by private attorney Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde while David Vargas is serving as independent prosecutor.