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Court Report: Intoxicated man allegedly threatens his family with a knife

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — An intoxicated man was arrested in Malaeimi last month after he went into the house where his wife and children were with a knife in his hand and threatened to harm them for not allowing him back into their family.

The defendant made his initial appearance in court last month. He’s charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, an unclassified felony, along with private peace disturbance and 3rd- degree assault, both class A misdemeanors.

Bail is set at $8,000.

The government claims that on Oct. 16, 2022, a female contacted the TPS reporting that the defendant in this case was outside of her house with a knife — but there was a restraining order against him.

Responding, police found the defendant sitting on the steps at the house. When approached, the defendant walked over to the house and struck the windows with a pipe while holding a knife in his other hand.

Officers instructed the defendant to put the metal pipe and the knife down. The defendant complied and surrender to police and was placed inside the police unit before he was transported to the TPS for further investigation.

The defendant was heavily intoxicated when officers approached him. His eyes were red and he could hardly walk to the police unit.

Police spoke to the defendant’s partner, who also is the victim in this case regarding the alleged incident. She told police that she and her children had just arrived at their home when she saw the defendant approaching them with a metal pipe and a knife in his hand. She quickly closed and locked the door to keep him from entering their house and to prevent him from harming her family.

The defendant demanded that she open the door and that was when she called the police for help. The defendant also threatened to cut himself with the knife and end his life.

The victim told police that she and the defendant separated three months ago and she filed for protection and a restraining order against the defendant but he continues to harass and break into her home several times, including one night where he damaged her vehicle parked behind house.

The victim also said she is living in fear that one day the defendant will attack her and their children. A majority of the time, she said she fears to go home because the defendant shows up uninvited filled with rage and anger.

The victim also provided a valid protection order, which the defendant deliberately disobeys by showing up at her house to either harass or threaten her.

The defendant was interviewed by investigation the following morning where he cried and apologized for his actions. He told investigators that he wanted to be with his partner and his two daughters, however, his partner’s mother influenced his partner against him and that’s why he was pissed off and wanted to damage the house.

JEROME IOSIA

A man has been arrested on the allegation that he disturbed the private peace (PPD) inside his home in Iliili.

Jerome Iosia is charged with 3rd- degree assault and PPD, both misdemeanors.

The government claims that on Oct. 2, 2022 about 4:47p.m, a young man requested police assistance at his aunt’s residence in Iliili and several police officers responded to the call and were told Iosia was causing a disturbance at home and threatening his brother and aunt, who is bedridden.

Officers met up with the brother, who guided officers to his aunt’s room where they apprehended Iosia, who is the defendant, and placed him in the police unit.

According to the brother’s statement, the defendant came to his aunt’s house, walked straight to her room and asked his aunt for $500.  His aunt told him, “E leai sa’u kupe kele faapega o i ai” and his aunt even asked the defendant where her food stamps were. That’s when things escalated and Iosia got angry and started yelling profanity at his brother, who was in the kitchen fixing his aunt’s food.

Iosia also came to the kitchen and told his brother that he was going to cut him with a knife that was on the counter. Iosia then walked back into his aunt’s room and asked his aunty again for $500, which caused his aunt to cry and say she does not have any money.

The government alleges that Iosia raised his voice again and started yelling at his aunt that she is a bad aunt and and does not care for her family and him (defendant).

The defendant further continued yelling at his brother from inside his aunt’s room calling his brother names. The defendant also threatened to punch his brother.

The aunt’s statement to police confirmed the incident, including her nephew (defendant) asking for $500 so he could feed his kids but she told him she did not have any money.

She further stated that the defendant argued with her other nephew outside in the kitchen, and she heard Jerome (defendant) yelling that he was going to cut something but she could not hear it clearly due to her poor hearing.

Iosia was apprehended and transported to the TPS for further investigation.

After he was Mirandized he refused to make a statement.

FARANI EKENASIO

A man accused of violating local drug laws has entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Farani Ekenasio, who has been in custody since his arrest in April of last year, appeared in High Court this week for his Change of Plea (COP) hearing.

Ekenasio, 35, under his plea agreement with the government, accepted by the court, pled guilty to the amended charge of unlawful possession of marijuana, a class D felony, punishable by imprisonment of up to 5 years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

By his guilty plea, Ekenasio admits that on Apr. 20, 2021, he unlawfully possessed a small stamp-sized baggie containing a green leafy substance.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 6.

Ekenasio is still in custody, unable to post a $5,000 surety bond.

IAFETA FAAMASINO

A young man was arrested after he allegedly entered another family’s home at night.

Iafeta Faamasino made his initial appearance in court this week.

He is charged with one count of trespassing and one count of 3rd- degree property damage, both class A misdemeanors.

Bail is set at $500.

The government attorney informed the court that they would be filing additional charges after police complete their investigation.

Faamasino is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 15 for a Status Hearing.

According to the government’s case, a woman contacted the TPS for assistance after she found a young man inside her house uninvited. Police responded to the call and observed a young man sitting outside of the house while two adult men were standing over him.

The woman who reported the case told police that when she heard a loud noise from the back of the house, she went to check and was shocked when she saw a young man standing in her kitchen. The woman called out to her husband and son who immediately responded and stopped the man from fleeing.

The man that was found inside the house was later identified as Iafeta Faamasino, the defendant in this case.

VILIVILI TE’O

A man arrested for disturbing the public peace in front of a family residence in Petesa last month has also been charged with unlawful possession of drugs.

Vilivili Te’o made his initial appearance in court last month.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, an unclassified felony punishable by imprisonment from 5-10 years, a fine of up to $20,000, or both; along with one count of 3rd- degree assault and PPD, both misdemeanors.

Bail is set at $10,000.

THE CASE

According to the government’s case, a man contacted the TPS for assistance after a man assaulted his son behind their house. Several police officers responded to the call and met up with the man who called.

According to the man, his son was fixing their fence behind the house when Vili (defendant) walked over to his son and questioned him regarding an incident that occurred two weeks ago where his son and two other males assaulted the defendant after a soccer game.

According to the victim’s father, Te’o punched his son in the face multiple times causing him to fall. Te’o then kicked his son in the back and stomach before two other males, who were with his son, stopped Te’o.

When asked about the incident, the victim echoed his father’s statement. He said that while he was on the ground after Te’o assaulted him, Te’o told him that he would shoot him if he calls the police.

Te’o was apprehended at the location and transported to the TPS for questioning. Before he was transported, a body search was conducted for weapons and drugs. During a pat down, two hand rolled marijuana cigarettes were discovered by police in the defendant’s rear pants pocket.

After being Mirandized, Te’o said that he understood his rights and agreed to speak with police regarding the incident.

Te’o admitted that he assaulted the victim out of anger because the victim and two of his friends assaulted him two weeks prior to this matter.

When asked about the illegal drugs found on him, Te’o said he bought the drugs from a man from Vaitogi.

JERRY TAULOGO

Jerry Taulogo was arrested and taken to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) on the allegation that he violated a condition of his probation after testing positive for methamphetamine (meth) and marijuana.

He appeared in Court last week for his initial appearance and his case is now continued until Dec. 15.

According to the government’s case, Taulogo was sentenced to a term of probation of 5 years after being convicted of 2nd- degree assault. Conditions of his probation included not consuming alcohol or illegal drugs and submitting himself for testing to make sure he’s alcohol and drug free. He was also ordered to visit the Probation office once a month.

Last week, Taulogo visited the Probation Office and was instructed by a Probation Officer to undergo a drug test and he tested positive for meth and marijuana.

Taulogo was immediately arrested and transported to the TCF to await his court hearing.

When Taulogo’s case was called, his defense attorney told the court that his client denies the allegation. The defense attorney then asked for a preliminary examination (PX) for this case, which is now scheduled for Dec. 15.

After his hearing, he was ordered to be remanded back to the TCF without bail to await his next court hearing next month.