MAN ON PROBATION IN SEX CASE SENTENCED FOR ANOTHER CRIME

Puna Tusiga who is currently serving the probation portion of his sentence for a sex crime in 2011 appeared before the District Court this week. This time he’s being sentenced for a public peace disturbance.

In the 2011 case when Tusiga was 19 years old, he entered into a plea agreement with the government pleading guilty to sodomy and endangering the welfare of a child. The sex charges against Tusiga stem from an incident where he touched a 7 year old girl in a sexual manner.

This week District Court Judge Elvis Patea sentenced Tusiga to 60 days in jail following the defendant’s guilty plea to public peace disturbance. Patea told Tusiga that the government may file for revocation of probation and he could be looking at more jail time. Assistant Public Defender Karen Shelley asked the court to sentence the defendant to probation and not impose jail time.

Patea pointed out that in April 2014 Tusiga was implicated in a separate PPD and he was sentenced to 120 days jail time, but placed on probation on the condition of his good behavior.

SHARY MUA IN JAIL AGAIN

District Court Elvis Patea set bail for Shary Mua at $1,000 in connection with a public peace disturbance incident and she’s scheduled to appear in court again on November 10, 2014.

Mua is currently on probation in connection with an assault case at a nightclub last year where she was charged with first-degree assault, but pleaded guilty to third degree assault.

In the assault case, according to witness testimony, Mua and her codefendant Etevise Tomai appeared to be trying to cause trouble with the victim. And after deliberately bumping the victim, an argument ensued, which led to the defendants throwing glasses at the victim’s face.

The victim suffered five deep cuts on the left side of her face, which required 17 stitches and she also sustained a fractured nose.

In this new case, Patea denied the request by Assistant Public Defender Karen Shelley to reduce bail for Mua from $1,000 to $500. The District Court Judge pointed out that Mua is on probation for an assault case from the high court.