Bail set at $100,000 for man accused of invading, robbing a Yelm home last summer
A 28-year-old Tacoma man accused of taking part in a Yelm home invasion robbery last summer is being held in Thurston County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Thurston County deputies arrested Nathan Seu Togia on Monday after Pierce County deputies detained him. Thurston Superior Court Commissioner Nate Kortokrax found probable cause for seven crimes when Togia appeared in court on Tuesday, including first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault, two counts of motor vehicle theft and third-degree theft.
Kortokrax set the bail amount, citing a substantial danger that Togia will commit a violent crime. He also barred him from contacting two other co-defendants and the family that occupied the Yelm home at the time of the alleged robbery.
A probable cause statement describes law enforcements’ months-long investigation into the incident.
Thurston County deputies responded to a report of a home invasion robbery in Yelm at 4:50 a.m. June 5. A family of three occupied the home, including a 45-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman and their 13-year-old daughter, the statement read.
Detectives allege Togia and several other people forced their way into the home, woke up the family and struck and bound the father. During the invasion, Togia and the others allegedly stole numerous items, including purses, cell phones, jewelry, credit cards, televisions, laptops, an Xbox and two vehicles.
Pierce County deputies located one of the cars, a Dodge Challenger, and arrested the driver after a pursuit, according to the statement. Deputies identified the driver as Felei Lapana Tauave, 28, who also is being held in Thurston County jail in lieu of $100,000.
Tauave has pleaded not guilty to several crimes, including two counts of first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, three counts of first-degree kidnapping, three counts of second-degree assault and theft of a motor vehicle. He is currently scheduled for a jury trial on May 10, according to court records.
On June 10, detectives followed up with the family and presented them with photo montages of potential suspects. One of them identified Togia from the photos.
On Aug. 25, Superior Court Judge Chris Lanese granted a warrant allowing detectives to search Facebook records associated with Togia. A review of Facebook messages from the day of the robbery suggested Togia was involved with the invasion, the statement reads.
A person associated with Tauave told detectives Togia called them shortly after the robbery from a cell phone that detectives understood was stolen from the family, according to the statement.
On Monday, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office notified Thurston detectives that they were detaining Togia and one of his associates in connection to this case. Detectives tried to interview Togia but he declined to answer questions, the statement read.
However, detectives said Togia’s associate told them they were with Togia, Tauave and another person before and after the incident.
Togia is expected to appear in court on April 6 for his arraignment.
This story was originally published March 26, 2021 at 5:45 AM.
