Inmate Nathan Mauga, who was previously sentenced to nine years in jail in connection with a property damage case has been sentenced to serve an additional 20 months for a drug case. Mauga pled guilty to a single count of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, which carries a jail term of not less than five, and up to ten years in jail, a fine of up to $20,000 or both.

During sentencing the defendant apologized for what happened, indicating that he’s learned that hanging out with the wrong crowd who use drugs is not a good thing and that his time spent behind bars has taught him a huge lesson.

Assistant Public Defender Joel Shiver requested leniency in this matter noting that Mauga is already serving nine years in jail. However Assistant Attorney General Tiffany Oldfield asked the court to sentence the defendant to five years in jail.  She noted that the defendant was caught with 1.7 grams of marijuana and rolling papers while inside the jail.

She also said that there is any investigation as to how drugs are getting into the Tafuna Correctional Facility. The prosecutor pointed out that she’s aware that TCF personnel are checking packages and even individuals who come to the jail to visit their family members who are incarcerated. Kruse asked the prosecutor if the TCF officials are also checking the personnel who are working at the jail and she responded “I sure hope so.”

Kruse stated the court has had cases of items being smuggled into the TCF inside socks and shoes. There were also vials hidden in a cake, which the chief justice says is the sort of thing you see in cartoon shows.

The CJ sentenced the defendant to five years in jail, however execution of sentencing has been suspended and Mauga was ordered to serve 20 months in jail under the conditions that he must not be in possession of drugs, nor take drugs, nor is he allowed to hang out with people who are taking drugs.

He was warned that any police officer or probation officer may conduct a drug test on him and he must remain a law abiding citizen. The drug sentence is consecutive to his current sentence, meaning he will serve an extra 20 months after he completes serving his current sentence for arson and assault.

Chief Justice Kruse also ordered the marijuana in this case destroyed when it comes back from testing with the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Court filings say DPS Vice and Narcotics Division was contacted following a jailhouse raid, as Correction Officers found what appeared to be marijuana, which later tested positive as such.

The Detectives investigating were informed by a Corrections Officer that he had been unlocking a Max Unit inside TCF to allow the inmates recreational time. The Correction Officer further stated that Mauga asked if he could go back to the Max Unit to retrieve his towel which was hanging on the line.

The Correction Officer followed Mauga to find him with a brown paper bag, while hand-rolling a marijuana joint. The brown paper bag was confiscated and the officer found a leafy substance which later tested positive for marijuana, enough to make four or five joints.