Man arrested for choking his minor stepson for allegedly stealing from him

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 10, 2024, a mother reported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) that her son was allegedly assaulted by her husband.

The defendant was apprehended and charged with:

Count 1 & 2: Assault in the Third Degree (As a C Misd.) (DV)), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both; and,

Count 3: Endangering the Welfare of a Child (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $2,000.

(Samoa News has withheld names of those involved to protect the identity of the minor victim.)

According to the affidavit, on August 10th, at about 9:00 a.m, TPS received a phone call from a female individual regarding her 11-year-old son that was assaulted by her husband.

Officers arrived at 9:19 a.m and met with the reporter (later identified as the victim’s mother) where she briefed the officers about the said matter.

The mother identified the defendant, and he was later apprehended and transported to the TPS.

The victim’s mother was also informed to come with police along with her son (victim) for further investigation.

According to the victim’s interview, the 11-year-old explained that he woke up in the morning and took his stepfather’s $20 from his wallet to buy ice cream while he was asleep. The victim stated he went in front to the store and bought his ice cream.

At around 8:45 a.m, his stepfather asked him if he used his money but he lied that he didn’t. His dad then went in front to the store and came back home.

At that time, his stepfather grabbed him by the neck, and holding him up in the air, choked him. He stated he was scared and concerned about his safety because this is not the first time his stepfather has assaulted him.

The mother of the victim was also interviewed, and she stated she woke up around 8:00 a.m. and saw her husband looking for his $20 in his wallet. They knew that her son had taken the money because it was not the first time her son has done it.

She explained they asked her son about the $20 but her son lied that he didn’t take it. Her husband then went to the store near their house and returned back home. She stated that her husband was really upset and that he choked her son up in the air.

At that time, she reported him to the police because she worried about her son’s life.

The defendant was Mirandized and he waived his rights and agreed to provide a verbal statement about the said matter.

According to the defendant, he woke up around 8:00 a.m and found out that $20 was missing from his wallet. He asked his son about the money in his wallet whereas his son told him he didn’t take it.

The suspect said that he knew that the victim was lying because he had done it before. He said he then went in front to the store near their house and viewed the video camera footage that showed the victim buying ice cream using the $20.

He stated he was really upset and returned home. When he got home, he slapped the victim’s mouth but claimed he didn’t choke the victim up in the air.

There was no visible injury observed on the victim and he was checked by the EMS unit at the TPS.

The defendant was transported into the Tafuna Correctional Facility awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 37-year-old citizen of Samoa.