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Mother turns in son for alleged PPD

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Joyetter@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A bail of $1,000 has been set for Patrick Ale over charges of property damage, third-degree assault and private peace disturbance.

The defendant appeared in the District Court yesterday. According to the government’s case this matter was reported last month.

A woman informed officers on Jan 27, that her son Patrick was disturbing the peace within their family and was breaking things in their home at Faganeanea.

 According to the defendant's statement, he got into an altercation with his sister, but was upset when he heard his uncle saying to call the police on him.

The defendant said he was tired of his uncle getting involved in their family matters and that was why he approached his uncle with a piece of wood.

Later he grabbed a rock and threw it at his uncle before walking away.

MAN PLACED ON PROBATION IN ASSAULT CASE

Joseph Lopesi Tualatai has been given a second chance by the court.

Sentencing in this matter was held before Acting Associate Justice Elvis Patea.

The defendant apologized for his criminal actions and for violation of the laws of the territory that led him before the court.

“I now know what I did was wrong and I am humbly seeking your honors for another chance to return home to care for my children, especially my parents.”

Prosecuting this matter is Angela Drummond while the defendant is represented by Public Defender David Vargas.

He was originally charged with a class D felony of assault, however in a plea agreement with the government, the defendant pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault. 

“As your attorney has pointed out, you have been on probation before, also for assault in the third-degree and you barely finished probation, just last year. Based on the day of offense in this case, it occurred a month after your probation expired and that’s’ why you probation from the other case is not revoked,” said Justice Patea.

He further pointed out that the panel unanimously agreed that the defendant has anger issues.

“You tend to think with your hands first. We’re also in agreement with probation that counseling would be the appropriate disposition in your case. Although the agreement says that you should be placed on probation of 12 months, the court thinks otherwise.

“You are placed on probation for 24 months and that condition of probation is that you remain a law abiding citizen at all times; report to probation office once a month or as often as they require; you will come back to court periodically so we can see how you are doing on probation, the last Friday of April which is the 28,” ordered Justice Patea.

The Acting Associate Justice ordered the defendant to undergo a counseling program with Social Services and whatever the counseling required, Tualatai must abide by it.

Apart from that, the defendant was also ordered to attend and successfully complete anger management counseling with Social Services.

His 90-day jail sentence was stayed by the court on the condition that he comply with conditions of his probation.

Tualatai was also fined $1,000 but $800 will be suspended pending complying with his probation conditions. The $200 will be deducted from the bond that was posted.