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No more partying at the beach for this guy

Utulei Beach Fale
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 41-year old man convicted of assaulting a man at the Utulei Beach while intoxicated in February of this year was ordered by court not to set foot at that beach during the period of his 12-month probation.

Wesley Anapu was initially charged with 3rd degree assault, public peace disturbance (PPD) and 3rd degree property damage, all class A misdemeanors, however under a plea agreement with the government, which was accepted by the court last week, Anapu pled guilty to 3rd degree assault and PPD.

With his guilty plea, Anapu admits that on Oct. 27, 2020, while intoxicated, he assaulted a man by punching him multiple times. His actions on that day disturbed the public peace.

When asked to recap to the court the facts of the case, the government attorney claimed that around 4:34p.m on Oct. 27, 2020, the defendant was at the Utulei Beach with some of his friends, drinking and making noise around the area.

The victim was a 50-year taxi driver who hanging out at one of the Samoan Fale with his wife and two young grandchildren. Anapu was loud and yelling profanities. The victim told Anapu to stop yelling profanities because his two grandchildren are with them and they are listening to what he’s saying.

Out of anger and disrespect, Anapu walked over to the area where the victim was sitting and punched him from behind causing the victim to fall to the ground. Anapu then grabbed an empty beer bottle and threw it at the victim and hit the victim on the back of his head while the victim was still lying on the ground.

The victim got upset and told the Tapeni not to do that again. Tapeni responded by walking over to where the victim was sitting and punching him in the face. As the victim fell down, Tapeni punched him again twice, before kicking him in the back while the victim was still lying on the ground.

A friend of the defendant jumped in and stopped the defendant. A few minutes later, police arrived and apprehended him.

When given the chance to address the court, Anapu immediately apologized to the court for his action. He also apologized to the victim for what he had done. He asked the court for forgiveness, and another chance to continue to care for his family.

The court told Anapu that alcohol is not a good friend to him.

Anapu was sentenced to a period of probation of 12 months, subject to several conditions. He has to attend and complete anger management, and he is to pay a fine of $125. While he’s on probation, he is not to set foot at the Utulei Beach nor to consume any alcohol, remain law abiding and stay away from his old friends who consume alcohol.