20 May 2004

American Samoa teenager sentenced to life term for murder bid

10:20 am on 20 May 2004

An American Samoan teenager has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for attempted murder in Hawaii.

Miti Maugaotega Jr was convicted for breaking into a home last June, and shooting a man in the chest after robbing him.

Maugaotega, 18, also received 10 life terms, with parole, for four other burglaries, including one in which he sexually assaulted a 55-year-old woman.

Because he used a semi-automatic firearm in at least three of the cases, Maugaotega must serve a mandatory minimum of 50 years in prison.

He will be 68 years old before he can ask for parole.