Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A young woman from Pavaiai was convicted by the High Court last week for stealing a cell phone.

Elsie A. Meredith, who has been in custody since her arrest in April of this year, unable to post a $5,000 surety bond appeared in High Court this week for her Change of Plea (COP) hearing. She’s represented by Assistant Public Defender Rob McNeill while prosecuting the case is Assistant Attorney General Laura Garvey.

Meredith, 28, was originally charged with one count of stealing, a class C felony, 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 form the commission of said crime, up to a maximum of $20,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.

However, in a plea agreement with the government, also accepted by the court this week, Meredith agreed to pled guilty to the amended count of stealing, a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

With her guilty plea, Meredith admits that on April 28, 2020 she appropriated a Samsung cell phone valued at over $100.

The government, along with the defense’s attorney agreed to recommend a probated sentence with the condition that the defendant pay restitution in the amount of $185.

After the COP hearing, defense attorney, McNeill asked the court to release his client on her own recognizance awaiting sentencing. McNeill told the court that his client has served over 3 months at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF).

The government did not oppose the motion, but only asked the court to order the defendant not to make any physical contact with the victim in this case and stay away from alcohol and illegal drugs.

 The defense’s motion was granted and the defendant ordered released from custody pending sentencing, which is now scheduled for Sept. 10th at 9a.m.

Woman accused of stealing rental car pleads to lesser charge

A young woman accused of stealing a rental car and crashing it into a rock wall near a store in Iliili almost 3 years ago has entered into a plea agreement with the government.

The young woman, Theresa Luamanu, who has been in custody since her arrest last month, unable to post A $5,000 surety bond appeared before Chief Justice Michael Kruse for her Change of Plea (COP) hearing.

Luamanu, who is on probation for a stealing conviction four years ago was initially charged with stealing by appropriating the property of another, a rental car, a class C felony punishable by imprisonment for up to seven 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, of both such fine and imprisonment.

However, in a plea agreement with the government, accepted by the court this week, Luamanu pled guilty to the amended charge of tampering in the 2nd degree, a class A misdemeanor, punishable by terms of imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

With her guilty plea, Luamanu admits that on Nov. 2017 she unlawfully operated a rental vehicle and crashed it into a rock wall in Iliili.

With her guilty plea to the current offense, the defendant also understands that she also admitted that she violated conditions of her probation including remaining law abiding.

Luamanu is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 11th, 2020 for sentencing and a Dispositional Hearing.

BACKGROUND

The government alleges that on Nov. 21st, 2017, a female rented a blue 2014 Kia Sportage from Roy Hall of the Turtle and Shark Lodge. According to the rental agreement it was to be returned on Nov. 22, 2017.

When the car was never returned, the owner then reported the case to police and the person who rented the car was questioned by police.

According to the female who rented the car, the key to the car was laying on her bedside table when she went to sleep on the night of Nov. 21, 2017. When she woke up the next morning the vehicle was not parked in the front of her house. She then asked Luamanu about the car. Luamanu replied that she had already turned the vehicle back in.

The woman who rented the car later found out that Luamanu’s reply was a lie. The rental car was never returned to the owner.

Police  turned their investigation to Luamanu, the person who last drove the car. When questioned by police, Luamanu admitted that she stole the vehicle from the lady who rented it and she crashed into a rock wall near a store in Iliili while racing with another car. She left the car and ran away.

In a prior case from 2016, Luamanu, who was only 20 years old at the time was charged with 4 counts of stealing and 4 counts of forgery. She pled guilty to one count of stealing after she forged a signature on a check in the amount of $480 belonging to Calvin Tagaloa of the Avapui II Corporation.

It is unknown at this time why the stealing case from 2017 is just now being prosecuted.