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Man pleads guilty to possession of a glass pipe that contained meth

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — One of the three defendants arrested after armed detectives of the DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit executed two search warrants earlier this year in June, in Petesa and Tafuna, has entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Henry O’Brien, who is out on a $2,000 cash bond, appeared in High Court this past week for a Change of Plea hearing. He was represented by Assistant Public Defender Rob McNeill, while prosecuting the case was Assistant Attorney General Laura Garvey.

O’Brien, 35, was originally charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, to wit; methamphetamine, a felony punishable by not less than five or more than ten years in jail, and a fine of not less than $5,000 or more than $20,000, or both.

However, in a plea agreement with the government, O’Brien pled guilty to unlawful possession of a controlled substance, to wit; methamphetamine. With his guilty plea, O’Brien admits that on June 28, 2018 he unlawfully possessed a glass pipe which contained meth.

The government claims that on 5.45p.m on June 28, a silver colored pickup truck was stopped by police in the Tafuna area. The driver was later identified as O’Brien.

Police approached O’Brien and informed him about the search warrant. When a body search was conducted on O’Brien, a glass pipe containing a crystalline substance was found in the front right pocket of his pants.

In his statement to police, O’Brien said he found the glass pipe in front of a store,  picked it up, and put it in his pocket.

He also told police that he knew a person named Misi Siua who sells drugs.

O’Brien is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 27, 2018 for sentencing.

O’Brien's two co-defendants are Sui Tago Jr and Misi Suia.

Tago Jr and Siua were both arrested inside Siua’s vehicle.

Siua, who is still in custody unable to post a $15,000 cash bond is charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, to wit; methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, to wit; methamphetamine, both class D felonies.

Tago Jr on the other hand has been sentenced to 5 years for unlawful possession of methamphetamine.