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Members of the Nuuuli Church of Christ convicted of assault

American Samoa District Court building
No jail time if: ‘good behavior’ & no contact with victims
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Four defendants in the case involving seven members of the Nuuuli Church of Christ, including senior preachers, who were arrested in September on the allegation that they assaulted a couple were sentenced to 12 months probation by District Court Judge Elvis P. Patea, after they pled guilty to third degree assault.

Tautua Suapusi and his wife Taua; Minute Soli; and Leua Vili appeared in court this week for their pretrial conference. When their case was called, defense attorney Bob Stuart informed the court that they have reached an agreement with the government.

Each of the four defendants were initially charged with third degree assault and public peace disturbance, both class A misdemeanors. But under the plea agreement with the government, accepted by the court, each defendant pled guilty to third degree assault.The remaining charge was dismissed.

With their guilty pleas, each defendant admits that on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 in Nuuuli, they assaulted the couple (the victims) in this case. Tautua Suapusi admits that on the day in question, he caused injuries to Tupou Mataafa by punching him in the face, causing him to fall down in the church.

Tautua’s wife, Taua admits that she scratched Mataafa’s wife’s face outside the church; and Soli and Vli both admit that they pulled Mataafa’s wife’s hair during their encounter outside of the church. Both parties recommended to place all four defendants on probation for 12 months without any period of incarceration.

Patea accepted the recommendation and sentenced the four defendants to 12 months probation subject to several conditions. Each shall serve 30 days at the TCF; however, the court will defer all of it, based on good behavior.

Each defendant must also pay a $1,000 fine; however, they are ordered to pay only $100 while the $900 is deferred. Patea advised each defendant to keep the peace at church at all times and not make any contact with the two victims at any time.

UPDATE ON CO-DEFENDANTS

The case of the two remaining co-defendants, Luao Soli Jr and Neru Soli is scheduled for bench trial on Jan. 2, 2020.

Soli Jr and Soli appeared in court this week for a pretrial conference where their attorney advised the court that the pair wished to exercise their rights to a bench trial. Soli Jr is charged with public peace disturbance while Soli is charged with third degree assault and public peace disturbance - all misdemeanors.

Last month, another co-defendant, Kalepo Tineiafi, an overstayer, was ordered to depart American Samoa and remain outside of its borders, as a condition of his 24-month probation.

BACKGROUND

The case stems from an alleged incident whereby a group of men assaulted a man inside the church, while a group of women assaulted his wife outside the church. (The victims are married).

It’s alleged that Luao Soli Jr walked towards Tupou Mataafa and challenged him to a fist fight. Out of nowhere, Tautua Suapusi walked over and punched Mataafa in the face, dropping Mataafa to  the ground.

According to the government, that’s when Soli Jr; Neru Soli and another male named Ioane jumped in and allegedly assaulted Mataafa. The incident is alleged to have stemmed from a meeting between Mataafa, Soli Jr, and another senior member of the church, to discuss Soli Jr’s letter to the church’s headquarters, asking for a vehicle to help carry out his work within the church. The meeting was held in the absence of the congregation.

The result of the meeting didn’t sit well with Soli Jr., who allegedly went to the church and lied to his family about being assaulted by Mataafa. A copy of Soli Jr’s letter was leaked to Samoa News.