Ads by Google Ads by Google

Man facing two separate criminal cases — stealing and drug possession

Court Report logo
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 37-year-old man who was picked up pursuant to an arrest warrant from the court, on the allegation that he unlawfully entered the home of another family and stole several items including three big fine mats, is now being charged with unlawful possession of drugs.

The government has filed two separate criminal cases against Apisaloma Taavili, who is not new to the court system. He made his initial appearance in District Court last week.

In the first case, Taavili is charged with stealing and second degree burglary, both class C felonies, punishable by imprisonment of up to 7 years, a $5,000 fine or, pursuant to A.S.C.A 46.2101, a fine equal to twice the amount of gain from the commission of said crime, up to a maximum of $20,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.

In the second case, he is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine, both felonies.

Bond is set at $20,000.

Taavili’s attorney asked to reduce bail to $5,000 surety for both cases; but prosecutor Laura Garvey pointed out that Taavili is not new to the court system, and his actions in these two cases show the type of person he is. Garvey asked that bail be maintained in both cases and the court agreed.

When asked to sign the copy of the criminal complaint for the second case against him, Taavili refused.

THE CASE

On Oct. 24, 2019, a couple reported to police that their Tafuna home was burglarized by an unknown person, and a lot of personal belongings were stolen. A week later, a woman who claimed to be Taavilii’s aunt told police about some stolen items that were brought into their home by her nephew, the defendant.

Police spoke to a male who said it was Taavilii who broke into the couple’s home on Oct. 23rd, and stole personal items.

Taavili was picked up at his Ottoville home and taken in for questioning. He allegedly admitted to investigators that he broke into the couple’s home and took a number of things on the night of Oct. 23rd. He went on to say that some of the items he stole were sold to a man from Le Aute in exchange for drugs, while others were given away for free to some of his friends.

Taavili was released after the interview, because he promised he would provide the names of the people he sold the stolen items to. At around 6:12p.m on Dec. 6th, police were on their way to execute an arrest warrant for Taavili when they spotted him sitting in front of a store in the Tafuna area.

Cops pulled over and during a pat down, 2 clear ziplock baggies containing a white crystalline substance which later tested positive for meth, fell from the right side of his shorts.

Police also found one hand rolled joint which later tested positive for marijuana, inside his pant pocket.

Taavili signed the arrest warrant for the burglary case; however, he refused to make a statement regarding the marijuana joint and the 2 baggies of meth. When asked about the drugs, Taavili refused to talk but told police to go ahead with whatever they found on him. He said he understood what he did but didn’t want to offer any more information regarding the incident.

When asked about the items he allegedly stole from the couple’s home, Taavili said he gave most of them to a man named TAI and he’s still waiting for TAI to give him drugs in return.