No bail for one defendant in sex abuse case

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On May 6, 2025, an elementary school vice principal reported an alleged sexual abuse case that also led to another case that involved two more minor victims and another suspect.

Two male suspects were charged as follows:

DEFENDANT #1

Count 1 & 3: Sexual Abuse in the First Degree (DV), a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2 & 4: Endangering The Welfare of a Child (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

A bail was set for $5,000.

DEFENDANT #2

Count 1, 5, 8, & 13: Sodomy (DV), a class B felony punishable by imprisonment not to exceed fifteen years;

Count 2, 6, & 9: Incest (DV), a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 3, 7, 10, & 12: Endangering the Welfare of a Child (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.

Count 4: Rape (DV), a class B felony punishable by imprisonment not to exceed fifteen years; and,

Count 11: Sexual Abuse in the First Degree (DV), a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

There was no bail set for defendant #2.

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

According to the court affidavit, on May 6th, at about 1:00 p.m., an elementary school vice-principal (VP) reported to the FPS that a 61-year-old man (later identified as suspect #1) allegedly sexually abused his step-granddaughter (later identified as victim #1).

The minor, who is 11 years old, first reported the matter to her 5th grade teacher and the teacher then reported it to the principal’s office.

Authorities interviewed the victim’s mother and she stated that the suspect would look after all of her five children when she goes to work with her husband. She also claimed she had no idea about what happened between her daughter and the suspect because her daughter didn’t mention any of the incidents to her.

The victim's mother further stated that she felt frustrated that her own daughter told the school faculty and the police about the situation instead of her.

After the victim’s mother was interviewed, the officers informed the victim’s step-father regarding the investigation being launched based on the allegations made by his step-daughter.

According to the victim’s step-father’s verbal statement, he told the officers that "in case you guys (CID Detectives) might be mistaken, nothing happened to the victim,” but rather who they should be concerned about is his wife’s niece who used to live with them around April 2025 due to a similar incident — but not with his father.

The victim’s step-dad alleged that his wife’s niece, another minor (victim #2) was abused by her biological father. The allegations by the victim’s stepfather are being investigated separately.

The authorities contacted the Child Protective Services (CPS) regarding the matter currently being investigated. Victim #1 was taken into CPS custody for her protection.

On May 8, 2025 at about 11:21 a.m., suspect #1 (step-grandfather) was interrogated and Mirandized to which he understood and agreed to make a statement and answer questions.

Suspect #1, verbally denied all allegations of sexual misconduct made by victim #1. He also explained that he did remember giving the victim a dollar bill when she came over to his house to get his son’s phone that was charging at his house.

The suspect refused to make a written statement. He was released upon completion of the interrogation.

A separate investigation was pursued regarding victim #1’s stepfather’s allegation of sexual abuse of his wife’s niece — a 15 year-old (later identified as victim #2) — by her own father.

Police found that victim #2 lived with him and his wife around April 2025. She had allegedly left her home because of the sexual abuse which took place between the victim and her father (later identified as suspect #2).

With this information, CID Detectives located victim #2 and she was brought into the CID office. CPS was also contacted which resulted in the CPS taking the victim into their custody.

On May 7, 2025 around 3:00 p.m., authorities interviewed victim #2 at the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS).

According to victim #2, on the first week of January 2025, her father (suspect #2) allegedly touched her inappropriately while she was sleeping with her 16 year-old brother and a 15 year-old female cousin (later identified as victim #3). The suspect stopped when he heard his brother (her uncle) come out of the room.

The victim also stated that she told her uncle about what happened and he confronted suspect #2 whereas suspect #2 cried and begged for forgiveness and said that it wouldn’t happen again.

However, on April 24, 2025 a third incident took place where suspect #2 performed sexual acts on her again. The next morning she told her aunt (victim #1’s mother) about what suspect #2 did to her.

During victim #2’s interview, she also stated that her 15-year-old female cousin told her that suspect #2 had also touched her inappropriately. Victim #2 identified victim #3, who was currently living with the suspect in the same house.

On May 9, 2025 around 2:14 p.m., suspect #2 was interviewed by authorities.

He was Mirandized to which he understood and agreed to answer questions regarding the allegations.

According to suspect #2, he admitted that he had sexual intercourse and raped victim #2. He also admitted to touching victim #3 inappropriately while she was asleep. Suspect #2 was released upon completion of interrogation.

With information from victim #2, authorities proceeded to locate victim #3 and brought her in for further investigation.

CPS was contacted and they took victim #3 into their care.

The affidavit did not state whether any of the suspects were arrested.

Both defendants are identified as citizens of Samoa, with the step-grandfather being 61 years old and defendant #2 49 years old.

An investigation later revealed that the minor currently resides with her mother and stepfather. Their residence neighbors the home of suspect #1, who is the victim’s step-grandfather.

After being briefed regarding the said incident, authorities interviewed the victim in the presence of her mother at the FPS at about 2:25 p.m.

According to victim #1’s statement, she recalled three incidents — all which occurred in suspect #1’s home.

The first incident occurred when she was in 3rd grade in 2023. The second incident occurred when she was in 4th grade in 2024. The third incident occurred on May 4, 2025, Sunday evening, when her step father sent her to the suspect’s home to borrow some seasoning salt.

The victim explained that she told the suspect that her step-dad had sent her to borrow some seasoning salt and the suspect grabbed her hand and walked her to the kitchen. He then gave her a one dollar bill and started touching her inappropriately.

The victim stated she pushed his hands away and ran outside of the house.

The victim stated that she told her mother about the first two incidents but she did not believe her. After the recent incident, she messaged her friend from school on Instagram and told him about what happened. The victim claimed that she deleted the messages afterwards because she was using her mother’s cell phone.