The owner of the Magic Circus of Samoa, Tupa’i Bruno Royale, came under fire from District Court Judge Fiti Sunia during the case of the Circus security guard charged with endangering the welfare of a nine year old child.
“The Magic Circus of Samoa is gone. The employer is gone, leaving this defendant behind. No one bothered to pay the bond,” Sunia said.
According to Samoa News, Teodore Sefo Willie has been in custody since he was arrested September 30 charged with endangering the welfare of a child, third degree assault, and public peace disturbance — all class A misdemeanors.
The defendant was accused of dragging the child on the ground resulting in injuries to the boy.
A plea bargain saw the charges reduced to endangering the welfare of a child, charges he pleaded gulti to.
Assistant Public Defender Anna Wells appeared for Willie, and Assistant Attorney General Jason Mitchell appeared for the government.
After both parties agreed to a probationary sentence and an order to leave the territory, Sunia sentenced Willie to a suspended 12 month imprisonment and ordered him to leave the territory and not to return until after the 12 month probationary period.
