Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 27-year-old man who was picked up pursuant to an arrest warrant from the court, on the allegation that he unlawfully entered a store in the Tafuna area and stole several items including electronics accessories; two speakers; a laptop and several power tools is now facing drugs charges.

The government filed two separate cases against Kereti Fonofaavae when he made his initial appearance in court last week.

In the first case, Fonofaavae is charged with stealing and second degree burglary, both class C felonies, 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 from the commission of said crime, up to a maximum of $20,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.

In the second case, he is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine, both felonies.

Bond is set at $25,000.

Fonofaavae’s defense attorney, Bob Stuart asked to reduce bail to $10,000 surety for both cases; but prosecutor Laura Garvey pointed out that Fonofaavae is not new to the court system, and his actions in these two cases show the type of person he is. The prosecutor then asked that bail be maintained in both cases and the court agreed.

THE CASE

On May 2nd, an Asian businessman reported to police that his store in the Tafuna area was burglarized by an unknown person and a lot of personal belongings were stolen. He told police that the perpetrator was unable to enter the portion of the store where food and other items are stored, but only managed to gain entry into the back room where personal belongings were stored.

A copy of the surveillance footage was provided to investigators, which shows a man entering the back portion of the store by damaging the wood door to gain entry.

A female employee was able to identify the person on the surveillance footage as Kereti Fonofaavae, the defendant.

Fonofaavae was picked up from his uncle’s home in Nu’uuli and taken in for questioning. He allegedly admitted to investigators that he broke into the store and took a number of things on the night of May 3rd, 2020, while his friend was standing outside of the store as a lookout person.

He went on to say that some of the items he stole were sold to his friend from Le Filifili in exchange for drugs, while others were sold to another man from Iliili for money to buy him and his friends food and beer.

Before Fonofaavae was interviewed, a body search was conducted and during the pat down, two clear ziplock baggies containing a white crystalline substance which later tested positive for meth, fell from the right side of Fonofaavae’s shorts.

Police also found two hand rolled joints, which later tested positive for marijuana, inside his pants pocket.

Fonofaavae signed the arrest warrant for the burglary case; however, he refused to make a statement regarding the marijuana joints and the two baggies of meth. When asked about the drugs, Fonofaavae refused to talk, but told police to go ahead with whatever they found on him. He told police he didn’t want to offer any more information regarding the incident.

WILLIAM ARONA

A man was apprehended by police after he allegedly tried to damage the door of a vehicle parked on the side of the road last Friday night.

William Arona made his initial appearance in court this week. He’s charged with 3rd degree property damage; attempted stealing and disturbing the public peace (PPD), all misdemeanors.

Bail is set at $500 cash bond. Pretrial conference is set at June 10th.

The government alleges that it was around 9p.m last Friday night, May 9th when a woman contacted the Tafuna Police Substation for assistance after she realized that a man was trying to open the back door of a vehicle parked on the side of the road in the Tafuna area.

Two police officers responded and were able to see from a distance the location where the vehicle was parked. Officers also observed a man walking around the vehicle trying to look inside. The man was later identified as William Arona, 29, the defendant in this matter.

Arona fled the scene when he saw the police units and officers immediately chased and apprehended him. Arona was intoxicated when he was arrested by police.

When asked about the reason why he was walking around the vehicle, Arona told police that he was looking for money to pay for a taxi to go home. Arona lives with his family in Kokoland.

According to police, the window to the passenger’s door was damaged when Arona hit it with a rock.