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Court Report

TAITO FACING SEVERAL CRIMINAL CHARGES

 

James Taito made his initial appearance in the District Court, where he’s charged with burglarizing one of the homes that was mentioned in a spree of burglaries that occurred around the same time. Taito is facing charges of second degree burglary, stealing and trespassing.

 

According to the government’s case, on December 2, 2014 a woman contacted the police station to report that her house in Ottoville has been burglarized. Detective Vasa Wells was assigned to investigate this matter.

 

According to the government’s case, on December 2, 2014 the homeowner returned home and discovered that it had been burglarized. The entire house was securely locked with the exception of the garage door, which cannot lock.

 

The woman said an inspection of the house was conducted and she found that electronic items were missing including a Lenovo Thinkpad laptop, a Mac laptop, a thumb drive, headphones, a cell phone, two iPads and a harmonica holder. All the items stolen were together valued at over $2,000.

 

The homeowner later saw that his stolen laptop was 'online'. It's alleged the man knew this because of the software program he installed on his laptop called team viewer, and the user was watching a youtube video, so the owner was able to get the IP address. Through further police investigation, police found out the IP address was that of Bluesky, who confirmed that the IP address belonged to one of their users, however they refused to provide the information as to who owned the IP address unless a search warrant was provided.

 

Based on the facts given, a search warrant was obtained and the evidence obtained led the officers to the defendant’s residence. The defendant admitted burglarizing the said home and then gave the officers the items that were stolen.

 

Burglary and stealing are each class C felonies, punishable with up to seven years in jail, a fine up to $5,000 or both fine and jail time.  The trespass charge is a class B misdemeanor, punishable with up to six months in jail, a fine of $500, or both.

 

ASI TO BE SENTENCED FRIDAY IN GOLD CONDA ARMED ROBBERY

 

Chief Justice Michael Kruse has given Falefatu Asi up until this Friday to obtain an attorney for his sentencing. Asi is one of the defendants in connection with the robbery of the Gold Conda store last year May.  Falefatu Asi and his co-defendants Alatuna Simi and Samuelu Wright, have been held on bail of $100,000 each, and each defendant has been charged with first-degree robbery and stealing.

 

According to a plea agreement, defendant will enter a guilty plea to the amended count of conspiracy to commit robbery first degree, and in return the government will move to dismiss the stealing charge.

 

By Asi’s plea of guilt, he admits that on April 30, 2014 going into the morning hours of May 1, 2014 defendant, along with Simi and Wright, made a plan to rob the Gold Conda Store in Faga’alu. The defendant and Wright retrieved a gun, and then picked up Simi. Simi and Wright entered the store with disguises covering their faces, and Wright was armed with a loaded shotgun, while defendant waited in his truck and served as look out and getaway driver.

 

After Wright and Simi took cash and a box of candies from the store, they fled and got into the defendant’s truck, and the defendant drove off at a high rate of speed. According to the plea agreement, defendant admits that he, Wright and Simi split the cash.

 

The plea agreement further says that upon completion of any incarceration imposed by the court, the defendant agrees to voluntarily depart the territory.

 

Since the acceptance of his plea agreement, the defendant has not had an attorney and when it was time for his sentencing hearing, he asked the High Court for a continuance, however at the last hearing, Kruse ordered him to obtain an attorney for his sentencing this Friday, as the court will not allow another continuance in this matter, which has been continued four times already.

 

JURY TRIAL CASE FOR FORMER MAYOR TINAE POSTPONED TO NOV. 2015

 

The jury trial for former Village mayor for Fagatogo, and retired Police Officer So’osemea Tinae that was scheduled for next week has since been postponed until Nov. 3, 2015. Earlier this year So’osemea entered a plea of not guilty to the criminal charges of rape and sexual assault lodged against him.

 

The rape charge is a class B felony, punishable with jail time from five to 15 years while the sexual assault is a class C felony that carries a jail term of up to seven years and/or a fine of up to $5,000.

 

The defendant was in court this week for a status hearing on his jury trial when the court was informed by his attorney, Assistant Public Defender Mike White that additional time is needed to put together new information to present at trial.

 

According to the government’s case, someone contacted the police to report that a suspicious commercial vehicle (aiga bus) was parked near a container close to the Juvenile Detention Center. It was reported that a young female and an older male were in the secluded area. It's alleged that when the police arrived at the scene they saw So’osemea and the 15-year old in the aiga bus. The officers took them into the police station for questioning, and the girl told the police that she had had sex with the defendant against her will.