MUAIGA SIATUI

A 24-year old man from Samoa accused of having sexual contact with a five-year old girl, has reached a plea agreement with the government, and will be sentence Aug. 4th, after the High Court accepted the agreement early this week.

Muaiga Siatui, aka, Povi, was initially charged with one count each of child molestation, sodomy, deviated sexual assault, first-degree sexual abuse — all felonies — and the misdemeanor of endangering the welfare of a child. The most serious of the felony counts is child molestation, a Class A felony, punishable by imprisonment of at least 10 years, according to court documents.

Under the plea agreement, the defendant pled guilty to the sodomy count, in which he admitted that on Dec. 10, 2016 he touched the victim’s private parts in a sexual manner. And this occurred while the defendant was visiting the victim’s family home at a village on the Eastern side of Tutuila.

When confronted by police, the defendant allegedly admitted to putting his finger inside the victim’s private parts, according to court documents, which also stated that the victim was taken to LBJ Medic Center to be checked, but it didn’t provide any other information.

Sodomy is a class B felony, punishable by between 5 and no more than 15 years imprisonment.

The defendant has been in custody since his arrest last December and has been unable to post a $22,000 bail. Court information shows the defendant arrived in American Samoa last October.

NASSAN TUPUOLA

The High Court has scheduled defendant Nassan Tupuola for sentencing on July 6th, after he pled guilty to hindering prosecutor in connection with a robbery case where another man has already pled guilty to breaking into three businesses and making off with more than $3,000 cash.

Tupuola was initially charged with two felonies — count one of stealing for his role in helping another person steal goods, and count two of hindering prosecution. The defendant pled guilty under a plea agreement with prosecutors to count two, while the first count was dismissed.

For the guilty plea, 27-year old Tupuola admitted that sometime on Feb. 1, 2017, he hindered prosecution by trying to cover up a crime committed by co-defendant Daniel Taufua, who last week Thursday pled guilty in High Court to three felony counts of stealing, when he broke into three local businesses in February and stole more than $3,000 in cash. (See yesterday Court report in Samoa News edition for more details on Taufua’s plea.)

Tupuola also admitted under the plea agreement, that he was the driver of a car, which went to pick up Taufua from a business site, which Taufua had just broken in to and stole cash. Tupuola admitted that he didn’t want Taufua to be caught and that was the reason he picked him up from the scene of the crime.

One of the recommendations in the plea agreement for Tupuola, is that he along with Taufua and a third co-defendant, whose case is pending in court, pay restitution to the three local businesses that Taufua broke into and stole cash. Tupuola remains in custody.

TAUTUA LETASI

A man accused of possession of illegal drugs as well as possession of unregistered guns — a 12-gauge shotgun and a 22-caliber rifle — was arraigned in High Court last Friday after his case was bound over from District Court.

During the arraignment hearing, Tautua Letasi, who is now out on bail, entered a not guilty plea, through his attorney, with a preliminary examination hearing set for July 28th.

Letasi is charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; and unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to distribute — both felonies. He is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of possession of two unlicensed firearms.

Charges against the defendant followed a May 21st traffic stop in which police allegedly found drugs and one gun in his car, while the second gun was allegedly found following the search of his home. Cash of more than $1,600 was found in a backpack in the defendant’s vehicle.