Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 32-year-old man was picked up pursuant to an arrest warrant, on the allegation that he unlawfully entered the home of another family and stole several items including clothes, power tools, jewelry and cash.

The government has filed two separate criminal cases against Viliame 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 $15,000.

Taavili’s attorney asked to have bail reduced 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.

THE CASE

On Feb. 18th, 2020, 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 man 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 Feb. 18, and stole personal items.

Taavili was picked up at his girl friend’s home in Malaeimi 9 months after the alleged crime 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 Feb. 18.

He went on to say that some of the items he stole were sold to a man from Vaitogi” in exchange for drugs, while others were given away for free to some of his friends. During a pat down, 3 baggies containing a white crystalline substance which later tested positive for meth, fell from the right side of his shorts.

Police also found two hand rolled joints in his pants pocket, and the joints later tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active compound in the controlled substance marijuana.

Taavili signed the arrest warrant for the burglary case; however, he refused to make a statement regarding the two marijuana joints and the 3 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 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 “SPUNKY” and he’s still waiting for his friend to give him drugs in return.