ALATUNA SIMI TO ENTER GUILTY PLEA

Alatuna Simi — one of four defendants who’s charged in connection with the armed robbery of the Gold Conda store in Faga’alu back in May — will enter into a plea agreement with the government.

Alatuna Simi, along with co-defendants Falefatu Asi and Samuelu Wright, are each held on bail of $100,000 and each has been charged with first-degree robbery and stealing.

According to the government, the lead investigator in this high profile case is Detective Sgt. Amituana’i Filemoni.

Court filings says that Asi was the driver of the vehicle that picked up Simi and Wright following the alleged armed robbery. It’s alleged that Wright pointed a shotgun at the cashier, while Simi jumped over the counter and grabbed a box from under the cash register, which was later identified as a candy bar box. It’s alleged that Asi and Alatuna each received $100, while Wright held $120.

This matter has been postponed to next month for the hearing on a suppression motion.

It’s unclear what the plea agreement terms are, but the defendant’s change of plea hearing has been scheduled for this coming Wednesday.

FAGAALU MAN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH DRUGS, WEAPONS

A $10,000 bail has been set for Tuliese Taliu of Faga’alau, who’s facing charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, possession of arms without license and possession of a prohibited weapon. The drug charge is a felony which is punishable with five to 10 years in jail, while the weapon charges are misdemeanors, and each carries a jail term of up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

According to the government’s case, last week, Detective Amituana’i Filemoni was heading west bound when he observed a gold sedan overtaking two vehicles in a no-passing zone in Avau. Filemoni activated his police unit’s red lights and went after the vehicle, whose  driver pulled over in Avau.

The driver identified himself to the police when he immediately exited the vehicle and walked toward the police units and apologized for driving carelessly say court filings. Taliu told the police that he was rushing to take his nephews to the Public Defender’s office for their appointments.

During questioning the defendant informed the Detective that he does not have a valid driver’s license nor any sort of identification and therefore backup was called to impound the vehicle and to perform an inventory search of the vehicle at the police station in Fagatogo.

During the inventory of the vehicle, Detective Johnny Paselio noted that three live rounds of ammunition were observed in plain view within the drivers’ door side pocket and when the defendant was asked about the ammunition he denied having any knowledge of it.

Court filings say that the discovery of the live ammunition in plain view within the impounded vehicle called for a search of the whole vehicle for the possibility of any weapons within the car.

Police found a black waist pouch zipper bag underneath the front passenger side seat, which contained a plastic medicine bottle which had 22 caliber ammunition. It is alleged the defendant later admitted the ammunition belonged to him. Police also discovered a glass pipe and four marijuana joints which Taliu also claimed were his according to court filings.

The live ammunition found was later identified as .38 special ammunition and of the three discovered was a hollow-point bullet, gold in color.

Defendant made his initial appearance last week Friday before the District Court.