Court Briefs with header

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 20, 2024, a vehicle was pulled over at the DPS sobriety checkpoint where a passenger was allegedly drinking in the vehicle.

The suspect admitted to drinking and riding all day around the island because he wasn’t aware it was illegal.

The suspect was apprehended and later charged with Count 1: Prohibited Place of Consumption, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

There was no bail set for the defendant.

According to the court affidavit, on Dec. 20th, at around 10:20 p.m., a vehicle was stopped at the sobriety checkpoint in front of the CBT. Upon conversing with the driver, the officer observed the passenger holding an open can of beer. The driver was then asked to pull over for further instruction.

The driver indicated that the passenger had been consuming alcohol throughout the day and he had told him to stop drinking.

The passenger was asked to exit the vehicle and two more cans of beer were recovered on his side. The passenger was later identified as Toriano Silva.

The driver was released while the investigation into the matter continued.

Silva was Mirandized and agreed to provide a statement.

He acknowledged that he had been consuming alcohol throughout the day while being driven around the island. He further confessed to having too much alcohol but was unaware that drinking inside a vehicle on the road was inappropriate.

Silva was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 21-year-old U. S citizen.

FARIN MAUI

On December 27, 2024, police officers conducted a traffic stop and arrested a female with an outstanding bench warrant for driving with a suspended driver’s license.

The suspect was apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Felony Driving, a class D felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than 90 days and not more than five years, a fine of $5,000, or both; and,

Count 2: Non-Possession of a Driver’s License, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than six months, a fine of $500, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant’s bail was set at $2,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Dec. 27th, at about 7:30 a.m., Farin Maui was observed operating her vehicle on the public road heading east bound. Upon observation, a traffic stop was conducted in front of a laundromat.

When approaching the vehicle, the driver rolled her window down and the driver was explained the reasons for the traffic stop. According to the traffic officer, there was a warrant for the driver’s arrest and that the court ordered the suspect’s driving privileges to operate any motor vehicle for a period of 24 months. The suspension commenced January 24, 2024 and would be reinstated on January 24, 2026.

Maui was handcuffed and the vehicle was impounded to the Traffic Base by the authorities.

She was then booked and transported straight to the District Court for a speedy trial.

The defendant is identified as a 42-year-old citizen of Fiji.