Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 30-year-old man with prior convictions over a decade ago is back in court on a new allegation that he stole his uncle’s pickup truck. When pulled over by traffic officers in the beginning of this month, the suspect, Viliamu Taisia told officers the vehicle belonged to his father, not his uncle.

Taisia was taken into custody on July 02, 2022 after officers pulled over the vehicle he was driving, after it was reported stolen by Taulaga Ioane (defendant’s uncle). The defendant made his initial appearance in court in the beginning of this month.

He is charged with one count of stealing, a class C felony, punishable by imprisonment of up to 7 years, a $5,000 fine or pursuant to A.S.C.A 46.2101, a fine equal the twice the amount of gain from the commission of said crime, up to a maximum of $20,000, or both such fine and imprisonment, along with one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, an unclassified felony.

Bail was set at $10,000.

THE CASE

The government claims that on the morning of June 29, 2022, a man from Malaeimi contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for assistance to locate his vehicle, a black pick-up, which he said was stolen by his nephew, Taisia, the defendant in this case.

The pick-up was stopped 3 days later, with three people in the vehicle, the driver, Taisia, and two female individuals.

When told the vehicle he’s driving was stolen, the defendant told police that the pick-up belongs to father, not his uncle.

Officers told the defendant that the vehicle was being impounded and he needed to come with them to the TPS for further discussion. The defendant’s uncle also went to the TPS, and provided officers with a document confirming that the pick-up is registered in his name, “Taulaga Ioane”, the victim in this case.

However, the defendant continued to claim that the vehicle belonged to his father, not his uncle. The defendant told police that it was his uncle who forcibly changed the ownership of the vehicle under his name after his father passed away at the beginning of this year.

After further discussion, the defendant was taken into custody and charged with stealing.

Before the defendant was taken into custody, he was patted down by cops for weapons or contraband. During a body search, cops discovered a glass pipe containing a green leafy substance inside.

The green leafy substance later tested positive for THC/ marijuana.

The defendant allegedly admitted that the glass pipe belong to him.

The two female individuals who were inside the vehicle were also questioned by police regarding this matter. Both of them denied any knowledge that the defendant had illegal drugs in his possession. They were later released to go home.