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Women accused of threatening ex-boyfriend and another female

American Samoa District Court building
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A woman accused of threatening her ex-boyfriend and another female was arrested and held at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) to await her first court appearance.

Katelina lona made her initial appearance before District Court Judge Elvis P. Patea this week where she denied the allegations against her.

The government has charged lona with 6 misdemeanors: 2 counts of public peace disturbance; 2 counts of 3rd degree assault; trespass, and resisting arrest.

lona’s defense attorney asked the court to release his client on her own recognizance; however, the government attorney opposed the defense’s motion and requested for bail to remain at $500.

The defense attorney argued that his client is not a flight risk, and she isn't someone who is harmful to the community. He said if the court releases his client on her own recognizance, he would make sure she is present during all her court appearances.

The prosecutor on the other hand told the court that if the defendant is released from the TCF, she would return to where the alleged incident occurred and do the same thing. She asked the court to keep bail at $500 to make sure the defendant doesn't commit a repeat of the alleged incident.

Judge Patea granted the government’s request; and if she is able to post bond, lona has to comply with several conditions set by the court, including not to attempt to return to where the alleged incident occurred. She also has to find some other place to stay while her case is pending.

According to the government’s case, on Friday, Mar. 6, around 9:14 p.m the defendant’s ex-boyfriend contacted the Tafuna Police Station for assistance, after his ex-girl friend, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, was making noise, including yelling profanities at him and his current girlfriend.

People living in surrounding homes were alarmed by the loud noise.

Several police officers arrived at the scene a few moments later to render assistance.

When police arrived, they observed lona sitting and yelling at her ex-boyfriend who told police that he had been trying to ask his ex-girlfriend to leave but she refused, and continued to yell profanity.

The ex-boy friend also informed police officers that he wanted his ex-girlfriend removed from his residence to prevent any further breach of peace.

When asked by police to stand up, lona allegedly refused. When officers attempted to apprehend her, she resisted by trying to yank her hands free.

Cops were finally able to secure her in a police unit and transport her to the Tafuna Station for questioning.

En route to the police station, the court affidavit says lona kept yelling profanities at the cops and told them, “You guys are stupid."

The court affidavit says cops detected a strong odor of alcohol from the defendant, who allegedly offered one of the cops $300 if that officer could drop her off at a friend’s home.

The government claims that lona made verbal threats to her ex-boyfriend and the new girlfriend.