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Two men enter pleas after separate incidents in Vaitogi

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The two men involved in two separate incidents in Vaitogi last year have entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Senio Faamanatu and David Sosene both appeared in court last week for a Change of Plea hearing.

Faamanatu was initially charged with second-degree assault and stealing, both felonies. But a plea agreement with the government, accepted by the court, allowed him to plead 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, Faamanatu admits that on Mar. 21, 2018 he intended to cause serious injuries to Faamoe Olosega by punching him in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on a rock during a drinking session.

Faamanatu said he was looking for the right time to assault Olosega, after he learned from his younger brother that Olosega and his brother-in-law stole from his plantation in Pava’ia’i.

The victim suffered severe injuries to back of his head, which resulted in him requiring surgery.

For the other incident in Vaitogi, Sosene was originally charged with second-degree assault and trespass. But under a plea agreement with the government, accepted by the court, Sosene 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, Sosene admits that on the night of Mar. 21 after Faamanatu assaulted Olosega, he caused physical injuries to Olosega’s brother-in-law by hitting his head twice with a rock.

Sosene said it was Olosega’s brother-in-law who first threw punches at him.

Faamanatu and Sosene, who have been in custody since their arrest last year, unable to post a $5,000 surety bond, are scheduled to appear July 17 for sentencing.