Adopted son causes allegedly reckless behavior at home

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 16, 2025, a concerned mother contacted the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) and requested assistance regarding her adopted son, who was allegedly causing a disturbance.

The suspect was later apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both.

The defendant's bail was set at $500.

According to the court affidavit, on August 16th, at around 8:40 p.m., a concerned mother (the reporter) called the FPS to report that her adopted son, James Mose (the suspect), was allegedly causing a disturbance at their residence in Afono.

Police officers were dispatched to the call, and upon arrival at the scene, they met with the reporter, who briefed them regarding the incident.

According to the reporter's interview, she was inside her home watching TV when she heard a loud noise from the back of her house. As she exited her house through the front door, she saw an ongoing altercation between the suspect and her other son (the victim).

The reporter stated that the suspect was engaged in physical aggressive behavior and was yelling profanities at the victim. The disturbance also alarmed the neighbors, who came outside to see what was happening.

She continued that she called out to the suspect, telling him to leave the premises and warned him that she was calling the police.

The reporter noted that the suspect was forbidden from staying at their house and is no longer a household member due to his ongoing reckless behavior.

The victim was also interviewed, and he explained that when he arrived at his parents' house, he saw the suspect lying on the grave site near their home, which he is no longer permitted to be anymore.

The victim stated that he approached the suspect and informed him that he no longer stayed there. The suspect got angry and started getting aggressive, and began to yell out profanities in Samoan.

The suspect told him, “No one tells me what to do.” He (suspect) then stood up as if he was trying to hit him while making threatening remarks.

The victim stated that he demanded that the suspect leave, and the suspect slowly retreated and left the scene immediately. The victim informed the officers that the suspect now resides with one of their aunts about a block away from their parents' house.

The officers proceeded to locate the suspect and met with the aunt with whom he was staying. The suspect's aunt invited the authorities into her home, where they proceeded to the suspect's room.

Mr. Mose was informed of the allegations against him and was apprehended. Police did detect a strong odor of alcohol emitting from the suspect's breath.

Mose was transported to the police station, where he was later booked and taken to the Tafuna Correctional Facility for confinement to await the next available sitting of the District Court.