A woman who allegedly broke into the residence of a judge, taking with her two ice-cakes, a pair of sandals and coins valued at $40, was arraigned in High Court yesterday. Elega Sauaso of Tafuna is held behind bars on bail set at $10,000 on charges of burglary first degree and stealing.

According to the government’s case, the incident occurred in May 2014 when police received a call about the alleged burglar. When police arrived at the residence, they met with the woman who owns the house.

The woman, who is wife of the judge, told the police that someone entered her home overnight, where two of her ice cakes were eaten and the remnants left on the kitchen counter. As the victim looked around her house she realized that a $1.50 in coins had been removed from the money jar in the living room along with the bottle of coins in the bedroom valued at $40. Also missing was a pair of the judge’s Nike sandals, say court filings.

Police interviewed the victim’s neighbor where one witness said she saw the defendant heading home early on the morning of May 18, 2014 and her pockets were filled with coins. The defendant told the neighbor that same day that she had broken into the victim’s house and told the neighbor not to tell anyone.

According to the government’s case, the neighbor found the sandals and gave them to the victim’s family. The shoes had been identified as belonging to the judge, and were turned over to the police as evidence.

The next day, May 19, 2014 police interviewed the defendant, wherein it is alleged that she admitted that she was drinking the night of the incident, and on her way home she entered the victim’s house through the front door. She admitted that she did not have permission to go into the house, say court filings.

The defendant admitted to taking the shoes and coins from inside of the house, and she told police that she used the money. The defendant was arraigned in the High Court yesterday where she entered a plea of not guilty to the criminal charges against her.

Chief Justice Michael Kruse scheduled the pre-trial conference for next month. Sauaso is represented by the Public Defender’s office while Assistant Attorney General Jessica Bargmann is prosecuting this matter.