Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 35-year-old man, who was convicted of stealing from his employer, and later selling some of the power tools he stole, has been ordered to pay a $2,000 fine as a condition of his 7-year probation sentence.

Tevita Haveli was convicted of stealing, a felony punishable by 7 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

During sentencing, Haveli apologized to the court and asked for a second chance to return home to his family. He also apologized to his former employer that was affected by his actions and promised the court he will never do it again.

Attorneys for both sides asked the court for a probated sentence, without any jail time.

The government’s attorney said the defendant stole several power tools from his employer’s company, and then sold them to another man who worked for the same company. When the company was looking for these items, the man who received the stolen items returned all of the tools to the owner.

The government told the court that the defendant is a suitable candidate for a probated sentence without any additional period of detention.

The court told Haveli that what he did was serious, but lucky, there was a Good Samaritan who returned the stolen items to the company. As a result, the court will not order any amount of restitution for the items he stole.

The court sentenced Haveli to 7 years probation, under the condition that he serve 28 months in jail. The defendant was credited for the 182 days he has served in prison, and the balance of his detention term was stayed, as long as he complies with all conditions of probation.

He is also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine within 12 months, and he is not to make contact with the company that was affected by his actions.

He is to remain a law-abiding citizen, and report to the Probation Office whenever he is ordered to do so.