Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man convicted of a crime while still on probation was ordered to serve out his period of detention that had been suspended at the beginning of this year.

Faamoe Onofia appeared in District Court last month for two separate hearings — a pretrial conference for his new case and disposition hearing for his previous case.

Court records show that while Onofia was on a 24-month probation from a PPD and assault conviction two years ago, he was arrested by police in October of last year on another criminal charge, this time with stealing, trespassing, 3rd-degree assault and property damage in the 3rd-degree.

When Onofia’s case was called, both parties informed the court that they had reached an agreement in the case.

According to terms of the plea agreement, Onofia would plead guilty to stealing and property damage and both parties recommended probation on the condition that Onofia pays restitution in the amount of $290 for the victim’s property he stole and damaged.

Furthermore, both parties also recommended to the court not to revoke Onofia’s probation, but instead to modify it.

Facts of the case show that around October of last year, Onofia had a fight with the victim and damaged the victim’s property with a total value of more that $200. Onofia went into the victim’s house and assaulted him after the victim spread rumors that Onofia allegedly broke into his parent’s home in Vaitogi and stole several items from inside the house.

Onofia strongly denied the allegation and told police that he never went into the victim’s parent’s home.

In delivering its decision, the court reminded Onofia that when he appeared in court for sentencing on his previous matter, the court suspended his period of detention of 45 days. The court then revoked his probation and ordered him to serve the 45 days at the TCF.

In the new matter, the court sentenced him to 24 months probation under the conditions that he pay restitution in the amount of $290 and serve 60 days at the TCF. He was credited for the two months he served at TCF while awaiting the outcome of his case.

Since Onofia had served more time than the period of detention the court ordered him to serve, he was released from custody after sentencing.

The court ordered Onofia to attend anger management, be law abiding and look for a job to pay his restitution.

FILIPO MALEU

A man allegedly found with two cut-up straws containing methamphetamine (meth) inside his vehicle when police pulled him over for a traffic violation last month has been arrested and charged.

According to the government’s case, on July 4, 2022 cops stopped a vehicle, driven by Filipo Maleu, for speeding in front of the American Samoa Power Authority. The driver was also not wearing his seatbelt.

Maleu had no driver’s license nor any other form of photo identification on him.

Before he was transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) because of no ID, police conducted a body search and found nothing. The search then moved to the vehicle where police discovered a yellow envelope between the driver’s and passenger’s seats. Inside the yellow envelope were four small stamp-sized baggies containing a white powder.

The white powder was later tested and the result was positive for meth.

Male refused to make a statement to police regarding the two baggies.

He made his initial appearance in District Court where he was charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth, a felony.

Bail is set at $10,000.

UALESI FARESI

The driver of a car in which police allegedly found a bag containing a white crystalline substance, marijuana joints, and drug paraphernalia has been arrested and charged.

Ualesi Faresi made his initial appearance in District Court last month.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth; and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana — both felonies, carrying a jail term of 5-10 years, a fine of $5,000-$20,000 or both for each count.

Bail is set at $10,000.

THE ALLEGATION

Faresi and another man were in a car that was pulled over by police in Taputimu for speeding last month. Faresi was the driver. Samoa News is withholding the identity of the passenger until he is formally charged.

When asked for identification, Faresi presented a driver’s license and an immigration ID — both of which had expired two years ago.

Officers instructed Faresi and the passenger to exit the vehicle and they were taken in for questioning while the vehicle was impounded.

At the police station, the two officers who escorted Faresi, said a baggie containing a white crystalline substance fell out when Faresi exited the police unit, and when police checked in the unit where Faresi had been seated, they found another baggie containing a white crystalline substance.

During a body search, officers also found a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance on Faresi.

An inventory of Faresi’s vehicle netted a small bag in the back seat, containing one glass pipe with a white crystalline substance and one baggie containing a green leafy substance.

The white crystalline substances all tested positive for meth, while the green leafy substance tested positive for THC/ marijuana.

Faresi refused to make a statement to officers regarding the illegal drugs allegedly discovered on his person and inside his vehicle.

According to the passenger, he was surprised when police found drugs in the vehicle. The passenger was released after questioning, as officers continue with their investigation.

LANESELOTA AFOA

The government has charged Laneselota Afoa with one count each of trespassing and public peace disturbance, both misdemeanors, for his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on the west side two months ago.

During last month’s court proceedings, a motion by the defense attorney to release Afoa on his own recognizance was denied by the court, due to his illegal immigration status. He was then remanded back to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) without bail.

Afoa told his attorney that his Immigration ID is still valid until Nov. 11, 2022, however, according to a report from the Immigration Office that was presented to the court, his ID expired two years ago. Afoa’s wife, who is also his sponsor, left the Territory in 2019 and has never returned.

Court information states that police responded to a call from a family gathering in Malaeimi on a Saturday night, where Afoa was allegedly causing trouble and yelling profanities.

Court records show that Afoa has a previous conviction from 2014, for trespass, stealing and 3rd-degree assault and was sentenced to probation.

Afoa’s next hearing is scheduled for this month.