Man facing assault and PPD charges after night out with wife

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Albert Fano was arrested and ordered to appear in court on charges of public peace disturbance (PPD) and third degree assault on Oct. 30, 2023.

Bail of $1,000 was set.

The case results from an alleged assault by Mr. Fano of his wife, Shana Malau’ulu in the McDonalds parking lot in Tafuna — he allegedly punched her several times on the head and arms, in the early morning hours of October 28, 2023.

The PPD is a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for 6 months, a fine of $500, or both. For Assault in the 3rd degree, a class A misdemeanor, the defendant could serve up to 12 months in jail, or be fined and $1,000 or both.

Affidavit in support of the criminal complaint states that on Oct. 28, 2023, in the early morning hours (2 am), Mr. Fano had a verbal argument with the victim (his wife) Shanna Malau’ulu at the Flames nightclub in Tafuna, which escalated when they got to the McDonald’s parking lot.

Investigation by police also revealed that the defendant damaged the victim’s car and then assaulted her. The incident was reported to police when she walked into the Tafuna Police Substation  (TPS) where she was interviewed.

During her interview, the victim said the incident began at the nightclub when the defendant “pulled hair back” and they continued to argue on their way to McDonald’s — where he “was still asking her a lot of questions.” At the restaurant, everyone in the car got out, and it was then she asked Fano why he had pulled her hair.

Fano, she said, got mad and punched “a portable tv inside the car where it broke.” Shana said she then told him to get out of the car, which he did, but he “started punching the side of the left back door where it left dents.”

The defendant walked to the front of the restaurant when there were tents and she called out to him “to wait for the cops” and got out the car and “held on to the suspect and told him again to wait for the cops.” She said Fano punched her head hard and continued to punch her.

Another vehicle then pulled up. and that’s when Fano jumped into the truck and left the scene.

A witness to the incident, who says she was in the vehicle when it arrived at the restaurant, said their other friends got out of the vehicle but she was still in the car when the victim asked why Fano had pulled her hair. She collaborated what Shana had told police during her interview, including punching the victim “while they were under the tent.”

Fano was apparently found and brought to the TPS (the affidavit does not explain how or when). He was mirandized and agreed to make a statement and answer questions.

The defendant, said he and the victim had an argument “but he did not pull her hair. He also did not punched [sic] the victim.

He further stated that “whatever the victim said about him physically assaulting her it did not happened [sic].” He also said that “he thought that the portable television inside the car was already broken.”

Fano said he left in a vehicle and went to Fagaalu while she (the victim) was still at the restaurant’s parking lot.

He was then booked and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined until his court appearance.