DEFENDANT JAILED IN MARIJUANA CASE

Drug defendant Michael Jackson has been sentenced to serve six weekends in jail as part of his five years probation after he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a controlled substance. During sentencing Assistant Attorney General Robert Pickett asked to the court for leniency in handing down a probated sentence for the defendant, an unusual plea coming from the Attorney General’s office that filed the charges against the defendant.

This is the case where the defendant accused Samoans of putting marijuana in his bag without his knowledge. According to the government’s case, the defendant was going through a security check at the District Court when Deputy Court Marshal Norman Heather discovered a baggie containing green leaves which the marshal (who is a former detective with the DPS Vice and Narcotics Division) suspected was marijuana, based on his training, experience, and visual inspection. The marshal then detained the defendant.

During sentencing, Associate Justice Lyle L Richmond and Chief Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr sentenced the defendant to five years in jail, however execution of sentencing was suspended and he was placed on probation for a period of five years under certain conditions.

Jackson was also ordered to pay a fine of $2,000 and to remain a law-abiding citizen. Full details of the case in our February 23, 2016 edition.

GOLD CONDA DEFENDANT’S JURY TRIAL KICKED OFF YESTERDAY

The jury trial for Samuelu Wright, one of the defendants’s in the robbery of the Gold Conda store in Faga’alu back in May 2014, started yesterday in the High Court. The robbery took place at gunpoint — leaving the cashier shaken.

According to the government’s case, the police viewed video footage and allegedly saw two masked suspects during the robbery. Both suspects were later identified.

According to the government’s case, Criminal Investigation Division (CID) received a tip from a female, who claimed that she was affiliated with Simi. The female told police that when she met up with Simi, he told her of his involvement in a robbery, where he claimed that “he was on a mission.”

The female learned from the media that surveillance video footage had been confiscated and then it is alleged Simi told the girl about the three of them who were involved and said he received $100 from the robbery. Court filings say that when Wright was questioned he allegedly admitted that he was only recruited to be involved in the robbery after receiving a phone call from Suspect 3, identified as the driver of the alleged getaway vehicle.

Wright also allegedly admitted that he and the driver fetched the shotgun from the driver’s house and went to the Gold Conda store with the gun. He also allegedly admitted that he was the one who pointed the gun at the cashier and that he received $120 as his cut from the robbery, say court filings.

It’s unclear as to how many witnesses the parties will call to the stand aside from the CID Detectives who will testify.

AUTE BAR DEFENDANT SCHEDULES CHANGE OF PLEA HEARING

Ah Kiong Talamoa also known as Ationo, who is facing charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, unlawful possession of controlled substance, marijuana and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, has been scheduled for a change of plea hearing this week.

Talamoa was arrested along with his sister, owner of the Aute Bar, Tumuatutasi Lefataia, also known as “Mama”, after police executed warrants to search both residences occupied by the defendants last year. They are criminally charged separately.

Court filings say that police searched Talamoa’s house and allegedly found ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and a pellet gun with pellets. A bag containing marijuana joints and a baggie of marijuana leaves, and three medium-sized cut up straws were found several feet from the defendant’s house. Talamoa, who was not in the house at the time of police search, was seen by police officers exiting another house on the property, which was duly searched and police found in plain view, pistol loaded with live ammunition, medium sized baggies containing “ice”, $1,107 in cash, a gun holster, a box of straws and other drug paraphernalia.

According to the government’s case, police spoke to Talamoa who admitted to having the marijuana joints, however he denied owning the guns and the ice.