Elementary school administrators report possible domestic abuse of minor

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On April 8, 2025, elementary school administrators contacted the police and reported a possible domestic abuse case regarding a minor who was scared to go home.

The defendant was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $500.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of the individuals involved to protect the identity of the minor in this case.)

According to the court affidavit, on Apr. 8th, during an investigation, a minor informed the authorities that her stepfather assaulted her mother (later identified as the victim).

The investigation later revealed that the elementary school contacted the authorities about the minor being scared to go home. The officers spoke with the school counselor and principal, and they stated that there has been an apparent domestic disturbance happening at the minor’s home.

The officers went to the minor’s residence and upon arrival at the residence, they met with the minor’s mother (victim #2). While speaking with victim #2, the defendant was heard behind their residence chopping down leaves and trees.

The defendant was apprehended and placed inside the police unit where he was transported to the TPS.

The officers spoke with victim #2 and she verbally stated that the defendant slapped her a total of three times on Apr. 7th, at three different unknown times in their home.

She stated that the first time was when they got into an argument and the defendant slapped her on the left side of her face.

The second time, he slapped her in the face when she saw the defendant staring at her daughter. When she asked him why he was staring at her daughter like that, the defendant got angry and slapped her again.

The third time was when she was sleeping and the defendant slapped her while he was drinking beer. He then told her to make him food.

There were no visible injuries on victim #2’s face.

The officers also spoke to the minor (victim #1) and she verbally stated that the defendant struck and slapped her mother in the face three times and he also punched her (the minor) once in the face, as well.

Child Protective Services were contacted and they spoke with the victims — after which they were later released to go back home.

The defendant was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The affidavit also noted that the defendant was involved in a previous domestic violence case.

The defendant is identified as a 25-year-old citizen of Samoa.