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Taxi driver who aided in burglary takes a plea

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 32-year-old man accused of assisting two males who burglarized and stole from a home on the west side, has entered into a plea agreement with the government.

David Taupola was originally charged with one count of stealing, a class C felony, punishable by imprisonment term of up to 7 years, a fine of up to $5,000 or both. However, in a plea agreement accepted by the court, Taupola pled guilty to the amended count of conspiracy to commit stealing, a class D felony, punishable by imprisonment of up to 5 years, a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

Taupola admits that on Feb. 25, 2020 he assisted two men who stole from a Tafuna home by using his vehicle to transport the stolen items and deliver them to his home in Mesepa, in an effort to conceal the crime from everyone, including the police.

He further admits that he parked his taxi in front of the home that was robbed, pretending he was waiting for a passenger. Instead