JANITOR CHARGED FOR SEX WITH MINOR

A janitor working at Fatu o Aiga was arrested and charged in connection with having a sexual relationship with a minor. John Iosefo is facing two counts of statutory rape, two counts of sexual abuse first degree and endangering the welfare of a child. If convicted of all charges, the defendant is looking at 21 years in jail in this matter.

According to the government’s case, the incident came to light when social workers took a 14-year-old female to the Department of Public Safety noting that she was involved in sexual activity with a 21 year old male.

It’s alleged that on January 11, 2015 the girl stayed behind with her brother while their parents visited their family in Malaeimi and upon returning the girl was scolded for not going with her parents. It’s alleged that the girl was so upset with her parents that she wrote them a letter telling them her intentions to leave the family and move to another place.

Court filings say that the girl called her boyfriend to meet her in front of the Hope House Daycare at 11p.m. that night. The said location is behind a house in Fatu o Aiga’, behind the cemetery, the filings noted. It’s alleged that the couple talked and then had sex.

The girl told her brother what happened and that same day the girl was picked up by social workers. The girl told the police that she and her brother could not go back to their house as their father has chased them both out of the house. She further informed the police that she had sex for the first time with the defendant in December 2014.

Police also spoke to the defendant, who is from Samoa and is employed as a janitor at Fatu o Aiga. The defendant informed the police that he was dating the 14-year-old girl and admitted that he had sex with her twice. Defendant is held behind bars on bail of $10,000.

OWNER OF STORE TO BE SENTENCED TODAY IN ASSAULT CASE

Xui Peng, owner of a store in Atu’u, faced with charges of second degree assault and public peace disturbance on allegations he assaulted another Asian man late last month, will be sentenced today after entering into a plea agreement with the government.

When Peng was arraigned in High Court last year, Assistant Public Defender Joel Shiver told the court the defendant wishes for an expedited jury trial, however the defendant opted to take the offer by the government.

According to the government’s case, the incident began when one of his workers and another Asian man from another store got into a fight. It’s alleged this fight damaged the cash register to the store in Atu’u where the fight occurred. The defendant was informed of the incident and that’s when he fetched a knife and went after the man who had fought with his employee.

According to the government’s case, Peng found the man he was looking for and challenged him to a fight. It’s alleged Peng broke the glass window to the store and went into the store and swore at the man who had fought with his employee. Court filings say that the defendant was swearing at the man, and swung the knife at him, which caused a cut on the victim’s arm.

Peng pleaded guilty to second degree assault, and in return for his guilty plea the government moved to dismiss the PPD count. During the plea hearing the defendant was told that both sides are free to make their own sentencing recommendations by counsel, but the recommendations are not binding on the court, which has the sole responsibility for determining an appropriate sentence within the limits of the law.

Defendant said he also understands and accepts that he will not be allowed to withdraw his plea of guilty should the court decree a different sentence than that recommended by counsel.