LOKENI TAUSILINU’U TO SERVE 20 MOS, THEN LEAVE THE TERRITORY

A 19-year-old boy charged with several criminal counts in connection with a sex case involving a 13-year-old girl, has been sentenced to leave the territory.

Lokeni Tausilinu’u was charged with first degree burglary, sodomy, deviate sexual abuse first degree, endangering the welfare of a child, underage consumption of alcoholic beverages; failure to have personal possession of alien registration card and private peace disturbance. Tausilinu’u is behind bars on a ‘no bail’ status due to his immigration status.

The defendant pleaded guilty to sexual abuse first degree and upon defendant’s plea of guilt the government has moved to dismiss the remaining charges.

During sentencing the defendant sought the court’s leniency, asking the court to give him another chance to return to his parents, to serve his church and village. Assistant Public Defender Mike White informed the court that each time he met with the defendant, the defendant has expressed sincere remorse for his actions. White asked the court for a probated sentence in this case.

However Assistant Attorney General, Russell Smith asked the court to sentence the defendant to serve time in jail given the severity of his actions against a minor. He noted that this young girl is scarred for life and the incident has changed her life completely.

Associate Justice John L Ward II sentenced the defendant to five years in jail, however execution of sentencing is suspended on the condition that he serve 20 months. Ward also pointed out that upon serving 20 months, the defendant will leave and remain outside of the territory for the remainder of his probation.

Ward also ordered that a copy of the court’s judgement and sentencing on this matter be given to the Chief Immigration Office and the Chairman of the Immigration Board so Immigration will be well aware of the court’s order against Tausilinu’u.

According to the government’s case, the 13-year-old victim told police she was sleeping at home with her 11-year-old brother, while her mother was out at a church function and her father was out drinking. The girl was sleeping when she felt someone pulling her ankles and touching her buttocks and she moved herself back up into her pillow thinking it was her brother pulling her down to the end of the bed.

The girl told police that the second time she felt someone trying to pull her shorts down, this person then slid his hand inside her shorts. The man touched the girl inappropriately and that’s when the girl woke up and saw the defendant standing over her.

Samoa News first reported on this case in December 2014.

PLEA OFFER FOR FORMER FAGATOGO MAYOR SO’OSEMEA TINAE

Former Fagatogo village mayor So’osemea Tinae was given a plea deal offer from the Attorney General’s office in connection with allegations that he raped a 15-year-old girl near the Juvenile Detention Center in Tafuna. A retired police officer, Tinae, 71 years old, is charged with rape and sexual assault.

He was in court yesterday for his pre-trial conference, where Assistant Attorney General Tiffany Oldfield informed the court that all the discovery in this matter has been handed over to the Defense, along with a plea deal offer.

Attorney for Tinae, Lupe Leupolu asked the court for continuance to allow him and Tinae the opportunity to review discovery and the plea deal offer. The prosecutor did not object to the motion and Chief Justice Michael Kruse granted the request and scheduled this matter for January 30, 2015.

According to the government’s case, the defendant is accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in an aiga bus of which he was the driver near the Juvenile Detention Center. He allegedly told the girl that he was doing this because her family owes him a lot of money. It is alleged that he then ordered her out of the bus.

Someone passing by the area, saw the defendant and the young girl and reported it the police,which is how the incident came to light.

Samoa News first reported on this case in October 2014