Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Two men involved in an incident in Tafeta last year have entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Afa Semo and Latu Filisi both appeared in court last week for Change of Plea hearings.

Semo under a plea agreement with the government, accepted by the court, pleads guilty to second-degree assault, a class D felony, punishable by a term of up to 5 years in jail, and a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

With his guilty plea, Semo admits that on Aug. 29, 2021 he intended to cause serious injuries to a man by punching him in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on a rock during a drinking session.

Semo said he was looking for the right time to assault the victim, after he learned from his nephew that the victim and his brother-in-law allegedly stole from his plantation in Taputimu.

The victim suffered severe injuries to back of his head, which required surgery.

As for co-defendant Filisi, under a plea agreement with the government, accepted by the court, Filisi pled guilty to second-degree assault, a class D felony, punishable by up to 5 years in jail, and a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

With his guilty plea, Filisi admits that on the night of Aug. 29, 2021 after his cousin Semo assaulted the victim, he caused physical injuries to the victim’s brother-in-law by hitting his head twice with a rock.

Filisi said it was the victim’s brother-in-law who first threw punches at him.

Semo and Filisi, who have been in custody since their arrest last year, unable to post a $5,000 surety bonds, are scheduled to appear next month for sentencing.

FETU SEILALA

In another case, a man has also entered into a pleas agreement after being accused of assaulting a man with a board.

The charges against Fetu Seilala, 35, stem from an incident where he allegedly assaulted another man during a family dispute in Fogagogo last year.

Seilala, under a plea agreement that was accepted by the court, pled guilty to the amended count of second-degree assault.

Seilala admits that on Sept. 13, 2021 he assaulted Filipo Saito by hitting him on the head with a board and later striking his back three times. He explained that when he went to his aunt’s home to borrow some tools to fix his vehicle, the victim called out to him and instructed him not to set foot on his land.

According to Seilala, the victim is the owner of the home that is occupied by his aunt and her family.

Seilala said he kept walking to his aunt’s house and eventually knocked on the door. As he was standing on the front doorstep, the victim confronted him and told him to get off the land.

A war of words erupted between the two, which ended when the defendant grabbed a board and assaulted the victim, who suffered severe head injuries and had to be admitted to LBJ for treatment.

Seilala, who is out on a $5,000 surety bond, is scheduled to appear in court next month for sentencing. The government is recommending probation, saying the two families have already reconciled the matter and Seilala has apologized to the victim.