Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 52-year-old father of four accused of assaulting another man with a machete in 2017 has entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Vine Olataga, who has been in custody without bail since his arrest Oct. 12, 2017 was initially charged with first-degree assault, two counts of third degree assault, and trespass.

Under a plea agreement with the government, Olataga pled guilty to the amended count of second-degree assault. The remaining charges were dismissed.

With his guilty plea, Olataga admits that on Oct. 12, 2017 he struck his neighbor three times with a machete — once in the back, and twice on his left hand.

According to terms of the plea agreement, Olataga was working at his Pava'ia'i plantation when the victim, 50, approached him and ordered him to get off the land.

Prosecutors say it was the victim who started the fight. He went to the land Olataga was working on, and damaged his plantation (bananas and taro). While the victim was doing that, the defendant told him — in a peaceful way — to stop and come sit with him, to discuss the situation.

But the victim continued to destroy the defendant’s plantation. Olataga was then unable to control his anger. He grabbed his machete and struck the victim in the back.

The victim ran to his house and Olataga followed, assaulting him in his own home.

Sentencing for Olataga is set for June 7, 2019