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Court Report

MISI FAIAGA CHARGED IN LATEST SEX CASE

 

A man in his 40s was arraigned in the High Court yesterday on charges of first-degree sexual abuse, false imprisonment and child endangerment, on allegations that he took a girl into a bathroom against her will.

 

Misi Faiaga who lives in Tafuna is represented by the Public Defender’s office while prosecuting is Assistant Attorney General Tiffany Oldsfield. Faiaga is accused of forcing sexual acts on a 16-year-old girl who was walking home from school and he was charged with first-degree sexual abuse, false imprisonment and child endangerment.

 

Court filings say the incident occurred last week Thursday.

 

She told police that while walking home the defendant called out to her and they spoke briefly. It’s alleged the defendant then grabbed the girl, took her into a bathroom and allegedly forced a kiss on her and touched her on her private parts. Court filings say that as soon as the defendant pulled down his pants, she took off running. 

 

STEP FATHER ENTERS GUILTY PLEA IN ASSAULT CASE

 

A 35-year-old stepfather accused of assaulting his stepdaughter with a broom and a belt has entered into a plea agreement with the government. To protect the identity of the victim, who’s a minor, Samoa News will not publish the name of the defendant.

 

The stepfather was initially faced with two counts of second degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child, however in the plea deal agreement with the government, the stepfather pled guilty to one count of second degree assault.

 

In return for his change of plea, the government has moved to dismiss the remaining charges in this case.

 

According to the plea agreement the defendant admits that on October 18, 2013 he struck his stepdaughter with a broom and as a result her body was bruised.

 

The stepfather also admitted that he struck his stepdaughter using a belt and the metal part of the belt landed on her head causing a laceration. Sentencing in this case has been scheduled for next month.

 

COUPLE IN COURT FOR ASSAULTING GRANDDAUGHTER

 

Taumaoe and Leoloa Fa’amasino were to enter a guilty plea yesterday before Chief Justice Michael Kruse, but during the plea hearing, Kruse ordered the government to revise the plea deal offered to the defendants.

 

They are being charged on allegations that they assaulted their 8-year-old granddaughter. The grandfather, Taumaoe, is held on bail of $25,000 on three counts of second-degree assault, while his wife is held on $20,000 bail, facing one count of second-degree assault.

 

Additionally they are each facing a count of endangering the welfare of a child.

 

The incident was reported to police by an official from the Matatula Elementary School in Alao and according to the government’s case, CM is an 8-year-old third grader, who had been absent from school from Feb. 14 through Feb. 26, 2013.

 

CM returned to school on Feb. 27, where it is alleged she had bruises on her face and arms, and a black eye.

 

The lead investigator spoke to CM, who said her grandmother beat her, but the grandmother told her to blame her uncle for the injuries from February, where he had used a   back-scratch stick.  She said she has been beaten many times with objects, including a stick, pipe or wire cord, and afterwards the grandmother would keep her home from school until the bruises disappeared.

 

The grandfather is also accused of strangling the 8-year-old girl, according to court documents.

 

According to the government’s case, an official of Matatula Elementary School, told police in late November 2012 that had she observed CM with bruises on her face.