Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Judge Elvis P. Patea has continued the Global Plea Agreement between the government and Ienisei Mata’utia until next week.

Mata’utia, who is still in custody unable to post a $20,000 bond is charged in three separate cases, all involving illegal drugs.

She appeared in court this week for a Global Change of Plea hearing. She is represented by Assistant Public Defender Rob McNeill while prosecuting the case is Assistant Attorney General Christy Dunn.

Due to the nature of the Global plea agreement, Patea continued the matter for Tuesday, Feb.19 and ordered the government to prepare a written justification under seal explaining why the agreement is in the best interest of justice.

The court wants to hear from the government why they want the plea agreement to be in this form — Global.

Patea said the allegations against Mata'utia are serious in all three cases, but it appears the government wants to combine all three cases into a Global plea agreement.

Dunn said that as part of the Global plea agreement, the government agrees to dismiss one of the cases against Mata’utia.

The defendant is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine for each of the first two cases, with bail has set at $5,000 for each case.

For the third case, in which she is accused of trying to deliver a package containing a huge quantity of meth to the TCF last August, she is facing one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Bail for that case is $10,000.

SIO SAVELIO & SHARNEL SAGOTE

Plea agreements for the two men who were arrested while police searched for a 21-year-old female who was allegedly kidnapped by a man last year are continued to Feb. 25.

Chief Justice Michael Kruse wants the prosecutor on record to be present in court when the plea agreement is announced.

(The prosecutor on record is Assistant Attorney General Laura Garvey, who is off island and is scheduled to arrive tonight. Filling in for her is Assistant Attorney General Christy Dunn)

Sio Savelio and Sharnel Sagote appeared in High Court yesterday morning for their Change of Plea hearing. They were represented by Assistant Public Defender Rob McNeill.

“I want a written justification from the prosecutor on record regarding this plea agreement,” Kruse told Dunn.

Savelio and Sagote — both in custody — are each charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

Court records note that when police searched the two men, they allegedly found 2 broken glass pipes containing meth on Savelio, while two small baggies containing meth along with $506 cash was found on Sagote.

Sagote’s bail is set at $10,000 while Savelio is held without bail due to his immigration status.

PIO ATONIO

A passenger accused of having a glass pipe containing methamphetamine in his possession when police pulled over the vehicle he was riding in last year has pled guilty to an amended count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

Pio Atonio who has been in custody since he was arrested last year, unable to post a$10,000 bond, appeared in High Court yesterday morning for a Change of Plea hearing.

With his guilty plea, Atonio admits that on the night of May 17, 2018 he unlawfully possessed a glass pipe containing illegal drugs, which was meth.

As part of the plea agreement, both parties agreed that they will recommend a probated sentence without any further period of detention.

Sentencing is scheduled for Mar. 8, 2019

According to the government, Atonio was a passenger of a truck that was pulled over for defective lights. A body search uncovered a glass pipe containing meth and 6 empty stamp-sized baggies.