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Vaitogi man caught with 3 marijuana joints pleads guilty to amended possession charge

Just say no to marijuana symbol
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man who was arrested for disturbing the public peace and later found with illegal drugs has entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Kalati Vaafusuaga appeared in court this week for a pretrial conference; however, when his case was called, defense attorney, Assistant Public Defender Rob McNeill informed the court that they have reached an agreement with the government.

Vaafusuaga was initially charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a felony; and two misdemeanor charges of third degree assault and public peace disturbance.

However, under a plea agreement with the government - accepted by the court -  Vaafusuaga pled guilty to the amended, lesser charge of unlawful possession of marijuana, a class D felony carrying a possible sentence of up to 5 years in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

With his guilty pled, Vaafusuaga admits that on the evening of June 3, 2018 at his home in Vaitogi, he had on him, three hand rolled marijuana joints when police arrested him for disturbing the public peace.

According to terms of the plea agreement, several cops responded to a peace disturbance matter in Vaitogi on the night in question. Vaafusuaga was present when police pulled up. He was yelling profanities at his neighbor while holding a beer bottle in his right hand.

Vaafusuaga was apprehended at the scene and placed inside a police unit for safety reasons, before he was transported to the Tafuna Substation for questioning.

During a body search, police discovered three hand rolled marijuana cigarettes on Vaafusuaga, who explained that the joints belonged to him, and he bought it from a man identified as “Vou” in Tafuna.

Vaafusuaga will be sentenced Dec. 5th