Student Accused in Fatal Burglary Gets New Attorney

A bail hearing for a former football player -- accused in a home invasion robbery that culminated in the fatal shooting of a teammate by a sheriff's deputy -- was delayed today until later this month.

Roman Tausaga, 22, has pleaded not guilty to a felony count of robbery and burglary with allegations that he used a firearm stemming from the break-in at a home in the 77800 block of Michigan Drive last Thursday in Palm Desert.

Tausaga is being held in lieu of $1 million at the Indio Jail.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Victoria Cameron reset the bail hearing for March 27 at the request of Tausaga's new attorney Dean Benjamini.

Benjamini has represented many high-profile cases in eastern Riverside County over the past several years.

He was arrested Feb. 23 by sheriff's deputies investigating the break-in, according to sheriff's Deputy Angel Ramos.

After the alleged burglary, a responding deputy saw a man running from the area, Ramos said.

"A struggle between the officer and the suspect ensued,'' Ramos said. "During the physical confrontation, the officer fired his service weapon at the suspect, injuring him.''

Frank Tanuvasa, 20, died at a hospital about an hour after being shot just after midnight on Feb. 23.

Tausaga is the second of three suspects that investigators said burglarized the home. Dyrenell Kardia Robinson, whose bail is set at $500,000, has pleaded not guilty to burglary and robbery charges.

Tanuvasa, a College of the Desert football player who came to the desert from East High School, is from Anchorage, Ak.

The deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, according to the sheriff's department.