Habitual offender guilty of stealing woman’s purse

A habitual offender was found guilty yesterday of stealing a woman’s purse as she was playing cards at her friend’s garage in Chalan Kanoa.

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho noted that Peter Koichi Lemei’s own statement places him at the crime scene at the time the crime was happening and that two people witnessed the purse being grabbed and stolen

He noted that one of the witnesses is familiar with Lemei and identified him as the one who grabbed and stole the purse.

Lemei will be sentenced on Feb. 8, 2017.

After the trial, Lemei, 46, also known as Peter Lemei Koichi, was remanded back to the Department of Corrections.

The trial commenced on Aug. 16, 2016, was continued to Oct. 31, 2016, then to last Thursday, and ended yesterday.

Assistant attorney general Heather Barcinas prosecuted the case. Assistant public defender Tillman Clark is Lemei’s counsel.

Barcinas called to the stand four witnesses, including the victim. Assistant public defender Clark called to the witness stand police detective Andrew Taimanao, who executed a search warrant on Lemei’s residence in Chalan Kanoa.

The victim testified that she saw the face of the person who took her purse. She stated she knows the defendant as she has been him in the past walking by with his dog and that he stays in the neighborhood.

The victim testified that the total value of the items in her purse was $2,000. The government, however, only charged the defendant with theft with a value less than $250, which carries a maximum sentence of one year imprisonment. The purse and its items were never recovered.

The victim’s friend testified that she was playing cards with the victim. She said when the dogs were fighting under the table, she saw a person grab the purse but could not see the face.

Camacho ruled that the testimonies of the witnesses are credible, especially the victim.

Camacho said the victim saw Lemei’s face from about one foot away as he grabbed and stole her purse.

Camacho said the victim immediately identified Lemei when police officers transported the defendant back to the crime scene.

The judge said the victim also identified Lemei in the photo line-up.

Camacho said the testimonies of the victim’s friend and the police were credible and corroborate the victim’s testimony.