Father hits daughter, alleges being urged on by wife and mother-in-law

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 22, 2025, a concerned neighbor called the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) after she heard a female screaming from her home.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

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

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; and,

Count 3: Endangering the Welfare of a Child (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 $5,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Mar. 22nd, at around 8:37 p.m., a concerned neighbor (later identified as the reporter) contacted the FPS and reported a man (later identified as the suspect and father of the victim) for allegedly assaulting a 12-year-old girl.

It was later revealed that the suspect punched the victim’s nose with a close fist causing it to bleed.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, they met up with the reporter. According to the reporter, she explained that they were playing bingo, when suddenly they heard the victim screaming and crying from her neighbor’s house.

She then called the authorities for assistance. After interviewing the reporter, she led the officers to the victim’s house.

Upon arrival at the victim’s residence, the officers observed a young female with apparent injuries. The victim was later identified as a 12-year-old female. The victim's injuries include a bleeding nose, red marks at the back of her ears and right hand, and also a scratch on her right knee.

The victim was interviewed at the scene. The officers asked her how she received her injuries and she replied that her dad (suspect) got mad because she was hanging out at her friend’s house. When she got home, her father approached her and tried to hit her but her mom stopped him.

She then went inside the shower and her dad came right after her and pulled her by the hair and punched her in the nose with a closed fist.

The officers also asked the victim if her dad said anything harsh or yelled profanities at her and she replied no.

The victim’s mother was also interviewed and she explained what happened.

According to the victim’s mother, the suspect/ father was drinking alcohol at home and he heard his mother -in- law was looking for his daughter. This made the suspect mad and he pulled their daughter by the hair and he punched her nose with a closed fist which caused her to bleed from her nose.

To stop her husband from hitting the victim, she pulled his hair. She stated that the suspect gets mad easily when he’s intoxicated.

The suspect was apprehended and transported along with the victim and her mother to the FPS for further investigation. EMS was also contacted at the same time.

Upon arrival at the station at around 9:40 p.m., authorities immediately interviewed both parties in separate rooms.

The suspect/ husband was Mirandized to which he understood and agreed to make a statement regarding the said incident.

According to the suspect, he only slapped his daughter’s left cheek twice but didn’t punch her. He further stated that his daughter has been coming home late from school.

He added that he never wanted to hurt his daughter but his wife and mother-in-law kept telling him to hit her for being disobedient.

The EMS arrived at about 10:27 p.m., and checked the victim and later transported her to the hospital for further medical review.

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

On March 23, 2025, the officers conducted a follow up interview at the victim’s residence. The officers inquired about the victim’s medical check up — she had been cleared and released to go home.

The defendant is identified as a 46-year-old citizen of Tonga.