Husband allegedly assaults wife after she came home late

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On June 26, 2025, Leone Police Substation (LPS) received a call from a victim who stated that she was allegedly assaulted by her husband after coming home late from work.

The suspect was later arrested and 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; and,

Count 2: 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.

Bail is set at $500.

According to the court affidavit, on June 26th, the victim contacted the LPS from a daycare center and reported that she “was in a fight with her husband”. The victim informed the authorities that she is safe for the time being and that a lady at the daycare center will drop her off at the LPS.

On the same date, police contacted the LPS and informed them that the victim had just walked into the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS). At around 9:18 a.m., police officers arrived at the TPS and met with the victim.

The investigation revealed that the victim got into a physical argument with her husband. She told the officers that she was dizzy and scared but there were no visible injuries. The officers requested to have the victim checked by EMS.

EMS arrived and treated the victim. The victim’s heart rate was high and she had a lump on her head, but her vitals were good. After being treated by the EMS, the victim was transported back to LPS for further investigation.

The suspect later arrived at the LPS and stated that the officers contacted him and told him to come into the LPS.

At around 10:21 a.m., authorities interviewed the victim and she stated that on June 26, 2025, she got off work at around 12:30 a.m. and was hanging out with her co-worker. She then heard that two of her co-workers needed a ride home so she offered to drop them off. The victim explained that they left their workplace at around 1:30 a.m. and she went to drop off her male co-worker with his girlfriend who was also another co-worker.

She stated that she waited outside her male co-worker’s house while he and his girlfriend went into the house. She then took a nap in her car while she waited for her female co-worker and afterwards she dropped her off and went home.

The victim claimed that she arrived at her home at or about 2:30 a.m. and met up with her husband. Her husband proceeded to ask her why she was late and that he had called her workplace and was told that she got off from work at around 12:30 a.m.

As she tried to explain to the suspect why she was late, the suspect grabbed her and asked “if this is what you wanted?” while holding up a rope and stretching it out.

The victim alleged that the suspect tried to stab her with a screwdriver three times but failed to do so as she was able to slap the screwdriver out of his hand.

Afterwards, the suspect pushed her on the bed and choked her and tried to stab her again with a screwdriver. Luckily, their daughter walked into their room and the suspect stopped what he was doing. The suspect angrily threw stuff that was in their room all over the place, one of which was a bottle of juice which hit her head.

The suspect was later Mirandized to which he understood and agreed to provide a verbal statement.

He stated that he was up all night waiting for his wife. He said that his wife’s shift ended at 12:00 a.m., When he called his wife’s workplace and asked for her, he was told that she left hours ago. However, the suspect claimed that his wife returned home around 3:00 a.m.

He asked his wife why she was late and she told him that she went to drop off 2 of her co-workers. He also stated that it was very unusual for her to come home late so he grabbed a rope and stretched it in front of him. He then threw the rope away and grabbed a screwdriver in an attempt to scare his wife and to see if she was telling the truth.

The suspect admitted that he pushed his wife and that he simply turned his wife’s head towards him, and when he saw his daughter enter the room he stopped and told his wife to get outside.

The suspect was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility for confinement to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The suspect is a US national.