Man arrested for alleged assault of mother and two young children

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 30, 2025, a female victim called the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) to report that she and her two minor daughters were allegedly assaulted by her uncle.

The suspect was apprehended and later 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, 4, & 6 : 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 & 5: 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 $1,000.

(Samoa News has withheld names of those involved to protect the identities of the minors in this case.)

According to the court affidavit, on Jan. 30th, after receiving a distress call at about 5:58 p.m., FPS  police officers responded to the scene.

Upon arrival, they met with a female individual (who was later identified as the victim/ reporter) of the said matter, who  briefed the officers regarding the incident.

According to the victim, she went to the store to buy diapers for her kids. When she returned from the store, the suspect was yelling at her kids. Her kids had spilled salt on the table and the suspect got agitated and slapped her 4 year-old daughter in the face, leaving a red mark on the left side of her cheek.

Moreover, the suspect had allegedly pulled the 4-year-old’s hair and snatched her one-year-old’s shirt and also left a red mark on the left side of the one-year-old’s neck.

The victim stated that the suspect also punched her in the face with a closed fist when she confronted him about why he keeps doing this to her kids who were both terrified.

After the victim’s interview, the police officers proceeded to locate the suspect. The victim told the officers that the suspect was inside the house, shirtless and wearing an ‘ie lavalava’.

The officers called FPS Dispatch requesting for the EMS to treat the victim and her daughters.

The officers met with a shirtless male who was wearing an ie lavalava and asked if he was the victim’s uncle in which he replied “yes”. The suspect was then handcuffed and unfortunately he collapsed.

The officers assumed that the suspect might have fainted or had a seizure and quickly requested another EMS unit. The officers were able to catch the suspect when he was collapsing, and slowly lowered him on to a chair for him to sit.

The officers also asked the victim if the suspect had any medical conditions, or history of seizures and she stated “No, he’s on drugs and he’s faking it”.

At about 6:39 p.m., EMS arrived at the scene and first treated the victim and her daughters. The victim refused further treatment at the LBJ.

The EMS then proceeded check on the suspect and found that  his vitals were all okay and he also refused further treatment at LBJ.

The suspect was transported to the FPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the station, the suspect was Mirandized and refused to make a statement.

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

The affidavit also noted that there were no marks or injuries on victim #1- the mother. However, her one-year-old was observed with a red mark on her neck when snatched by her shirt.

Police officers also observed what seemed to be a slap red mark on the 4-year-old’s cheeks. The victim also reported to the officers that this is not the first time that the suspect has done this to her and her kids but this was the first time she reported it to the police.

Officers also provided a written statement from the victim’s father. He stated that he witnessed what happened when the suspect assaulted his daughter and granddaughters.

The witness stated that the suspect yelled profanities in Samoan at his grandkids and hit them using his bare hands.

The defendant is identified as a 55-year-old U.S National.