Son arrested for allegedly assaulting his mother and literally tossing her out of the house

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On October 22, 2023, a mother called the Tafuna Police Substation to report that her son, Tovio Poynton, allegedly assaulted her with a wooden stick and tossed her out of the house by grabbing her body and throwing her out of the front door of the residence.

According to the affidavit, police responded to her call at her residence where she introduced herself as the victim. She verbally stated to police officers that her son Tovio had fled the scene because he knew that she had called the police. The officers canvassed the area of Kokoland and could not find him.

The mother was interviewed at the TPS where she said that she had a family meeting with her brother about family issues, while Mr. Poynton was sitting and listening in on their conversation. After the family meeting, she had an argument with Tovio about how he (suspect) kept insisting that she (victim) pay back all the money that he had previously given to her.

The victim then stated that she yelled at him about being disrespectful, while Tovio kept screaming at her. She then got up to try and hit him for answering back, but he grabbed a stick and swung it towards her face, missing, and instead striking the back of her head and her ear.

The victim said that she was wearing a “ie lavalava” and as she tried to avoid Tovio by walking away, her son grabbed her, lifting her body and threw her out of the house through the front door. This caused her to twist her ankle as she fell out of the house, naked.

At that time, she called the police station for assistance, according to the affidavit.

The EMS was contacted because the victim was complaining of pain from her ankle and knee. Her vitals were taken and her blood pressure appeared to have been elevated. An assessment was done on her knee and ankle, but the victim refused to be transported to LBJ for further treatment. She stated she was okay and would still be able to walk home.

After her interview at the TPS, the victim was transported back to her residence and upon arrival she saw her son in the house. She yelled out to notify officers that he was inside the house.

Poynton, 42, was apprehended and transported to the TPS for further investigation. He was Mirandized and indicated that he understood and made a verbal statement.

He explained that everything happened on Saturday, October 21, 2023 when his mother’s family tried to beat him up.  “All because they think his mother is the victim in the household.”

The defendant stated that “he did nothing to his mother and that she’s a liar.” He also pointed out that he never hit her with a stick or tossed her out the house — that “he pushed her away.”

Poynton was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TFC) until the next sitting of the court.

The defendant is being charged with a class C felony count of Abuse of An Elderly Person or Disabled Adult, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to seven years, a fine of not more that $5,000, or both.

Poynton’s bail is set at $2,000.

He and his mother are Samoa Nationals. Poynton is employed locally.