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Local boxer pleads to assaulting two youngsters and is sentenced to probation

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The incident taught him a huge lesson about his anger issues, he says
Joyetter@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A local boxer who pleaded guilty to assaulting two young boys with a tree branch has been sentenced to 24 months probation.

Sentencing for Paofe Iopu Se’eti was handed down by Acting Associate Justice Elvis Patea, who was accompanied on the bench by Associate Judges Muasau T. Tofili and Paepae Iosefa Faiai, yesterday morning.

This is in relation to an incident that occurred back in May this year involving two boys, ages 6 and 7.

The defendant who is represented by Attorney Marcellus Talaimalo Uiagalelei, asked the court for a second chance.

The court heard from Se’eti that he’s remorseful and the incident has taught him a huge lesson pertaining to his anger issues.

“I apologize for what happened and I promise it will not happen again,” said the defendant.

Defense Counsel, Uiagalelei asked the court to consider probation for his client, which is in line with the probation report submitted before the court.

“He’s a good man, a hardworking man and he let his anger get the best of him,” said defense counsel.

He has already rendered an apology to the grandfather of the victims.

The prosecutor, Angela Drummond agreed with the recommendation by the probation office.

She also pointed out that despite the victims’ being young, the apology should be directed to them.

According to the government’s case, May 30, 2022 police received a call for assistance regarding his grandsons A.T and L.T who had been assaulted by the defendant with a tree branch.

A.T sustained a scratch near his left eye causing redness in his eye and L.T had a bruise on his right wrist. Both minors were also interviewed at their residence after officers spoke with their grandfather.

A.T told police they were playing outside Seeti’s house, when the defendant yelled at them to leave his porch.

However, A.T and his brother, L.T remained there while two of their cousins (who are also minors) went running to their house.

According to court documents A.T told officers that Seeti approached him and his brother L.T with a tree branch and first struck L.T and later swung at A.T where it hit him in the face causing a scratch on his left eye.”

According to Seeti, he just got home from work when he saw A.T and L.T along with two other minors playing on his front porch and littering. Seeti stated that he was really upset and called out to them, however, A.T and L.T stood by while the other two minors ran away.

He then grabbed a tree branch and struck the young boys. Seeti went on to say that he only wanted to scare them off but he was upset and that led to the assault.

Patea sentenced the defendant to 24 months in jail on the conditions that he remain a law abiding citizen, report to probation as determined and submit to an evaluation with the Social Services.

Furthermore Patea ordered the defendant to pay a fine of $1,000 for each of the two counts of assault, however $800 was deferred for each count pending his good behavior and he’s to pay the balance of $400 within 60 days.

Patea delivered the following for jail time: It was set at 90 days for each count to be run concurrently. He was credited for the 31 days he had served before he posted bond and the remaining 59 days were suspended for now as long as he complies with the conditions of probation over the next 24 months.