Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The High Court has rejected a signed plea agreement between the government and defendant, Steven Tuatoo. The Change of Plea (COP) hearing was conducted behind closed doors, so, the terms of the plea agreement were not available to the media. However, a reliable source confirmed to Samoa News that the plea agreement was rejected.

It is not clear at this point whether the two parties are still in negotiation on another plea agreement or whether the case is now preparing to go to trial.

Tuatoo, the ex-cop allegedly involved in a Taputimu drug bust over 3 years ago is now in custody unable to post a $100,000 surety bond.

BACKGROUND

Tuatoo was placed behind bars at TCF after being extradited to the territory from Washington state two years ago.

He has been charged with five counts — one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, possession of a prohibited weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm and flight to avoid prosecution.

The charges stem from a police raid of Tuatoo’s home in Alofau in November of last year in which according to the government’s case, numerous pieces of contraband were found including substances testing positive for methamphetamine, marijuana and a 16 gauge shotgun.

The search was conducted on Nov. 9, 2017, and following the raid, Tuato’o was booked at the TCF until the next sitting of District Court, which was Nov. 13, due to the Veterans Day holiday.

Between Nov. 11 and 12, according to the government, Corrections officers at the TCF improperly released the defendant from custody at the expiration of the 48-hour confinement.

Tuatoo then traveled to the mainland via Samoa but he got on the wrong side of the law there in a domestic violence case, and was charged.

He pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of Domestic Violence and was sentenced to time served.

Governor Lolo filed a request for Tuatoo’s extradition and he was returned to the territory on July 24, 2018.