Husband charged with PPD and assault of a minor after a day at the beach

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 11, 2025, a woman called the Tafuna Police Substation and reported a disturbance that had led to the assault of a minor.

The suspect denied the allegations and was later charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300 or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

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

Court records, filed on Nov. 2, 2025, reveal that on Nov. 11th, at approximately 7:43 p.m., an individual (later identified as the reporter) called the TPS to report an alleged disturbance in Nu'uuli.

Police officers responded to the call and, upon arrival at the scene, noticed a family waiting for them in front of their home.

The officers interviewed a woman, later identified as the suspect's wife/ victim #1.

She told the officers that they had gone for a swim earlier, and only her husband (the suspect) had been drinking. When they returned home, they sat in the back of their vehicle when the suspect began bringing up past issues, which seemed to upset him.

Victim #1 reported hearing the suspect telling their daughter in Samoan to "puka" (meaning to prepare to get slapped on the mouth). She, in turn, yelled at the suspect, who began cussing at her in Samoan and yelling nonsense in front of her mother.

She said she told the suspect to be quiet, but he responded by throwing a phone at her, which missed and struck their car, damaging the rear windshield.

The suspect's wife further explained that her daughter (later identified as victim #2/ minor) later came to her crying that the suspect had slapped her in the face.

Frightened for her and her kids' safety, she requested that the suspect not be allowed around them due to his aggressive behavior.

The authorities later met with victim #2, where they observed a handprint mark on her left cheek. When the officers asked why her father slapped her face, she stated that he was mad for no reason.

The reporter was also interviewed, and she explained that she was inside the house when, all of a sudden, the suspect entered and started throwing furniture around. She stated that the suspect was mumbling and looked extremely irritated. Worried about the situation, she contacted the police for assistance.

The suspect was escorted to the unit for transport to the police station. He was Mirandized upon arrival, where he understood and agreed to provide a statement and answer questions.

According to the suspect, he and his family were heading back home after a day at the beach. He claimed that when they arrived home, his wife, her mother, and her sister got into an argument. He intervened and told them to stop, which made his wife mad for no reason, leading to an altercation.

When questioned about his wife's and child's accusations, the suspect refused to acknowledge them. The officers also mentioned the assault on the minor, but he claimed that he only tapped her on the back after telling her to get some ice.

The officers continued questioning the suspect, but his story changed each time he answered. During the interrogation, the officers also noticed the suspect's slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath.

The suspect was later booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 27-year-old U.S national.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court. ra]