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Judge Patea reminds repeat offender that court orders are to be followed

American Samoa District Court building
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — District Court Judge Elvis P. Patea has sentenced Faafetai Sauvao to 10 days behind bars after Sauvao — while on probation — was convicted of public peace disturbance.

“This is how things work out in this courtroom,” Judge Patea said to Sauvao. “Once you violate a condition of your probation, we’re no longer talking about counseling; we’re talking about jail terms, and that’s what you get for disobeying the court’s order.”

“So, if you want to try the court again, go ahead because your next conviction will be higher than this one,” Judge Patea warned.

Sauvao was placed on probation for 6 months after he was convicted of public peace disturbance last year.

One of the many conditions of probation required Sauvao to maintain the peace with his girlfriend and remain law abiding.

Before the end of last year, police re-arrested and charged Sauvao for yet another public peace disturbance, for which he was convicted yesterday.

Sauvao will have to spend 5 weekends at the TCF to fulfill his 10-day detention sentence.

Sauvao apologized to the court for his actions and begged for one more chance so he can continue his care for his parents and his family. He told the court that he has learned his lesson — that breaking the law is not a good thing, and prison is not a good place to be.