Young boyfriend allegedly assaults his 73-year old ‘girlfriend’

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Police responded to a reported assault in the village of Futiga on the morning of December 27, 2025, after receiving a call involving a 73-year-old woman and her 25-year-old boyfriend.

The suspect was charged with the following:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV) - a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, a fine of not more than $1000 but not less than $150, or both such imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV) - a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300 but not less than $150, or both such imprisonment and fine;

Count 3: False Imprisonment (DV) - a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, a fine of not more than $1000.00 but not less than $150.00, or both such imprisonment and fine; and.

Count 4: Property Damage in the Third Degree - a class B misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed six months, a fine of not more than $500, or both such imprisonment and fine.

No bail is granted to the defendant.

The affidavit, filed in the District Court on Dec. 29, 2025, states that upon arrival at the Futiga residence, officers made contact with an elderly woman, who showed visible signs of injury. Blood was observed around her facial area, and she was found to be suffering from an abrasion to her upper lip. The victim also complained of headaches and body pain as a result of the incident.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was requested to the scene to evaluate and treat the woman’s injuries. She was treated by EMS personnel and later released.

Photographs documenting her injuries were taken by officers as part of the investigation.

According to the affidavit, the victim stated that earlier that morning her boyfriend, Mr. Edward Johnny, arrived at her home with eggs and woke her up to prepare a meal for him. She explained that she became upset because she was tired and wished to return to sleep. According to the victim, Johnny, became angry and began verbally abusing her before physically assaulting her by punching her in the face and squeezing her mouth.

The victim further reported that she fled to a neighboring residence to seek help and contact police. However, Johnny, allegedly followed her, broke a window at the neighbor’s home, forced his way inside, and dragged her back to her own residence.

She stated that while she was crying and pleading for help, the suspect attempted to cover her mouth to prevent her from screaming.

The victim told officers that the abuse has been ongoing and that she has been unable to live peacefully in her own home. She stated that although she does not want the suspect to stay with her, he repeatedly forces his way into her residence and behaves as though he owns the property, acting as though nothing has happened after each incident.

Following the interview with the victim, officers located and detained the Johnny.

He was described as argumentative and insisted that there was no reason for police to take him into custody, claiming that he had done nothing wrong.

The suspect was transported to the Leone Police Substation (LPS), where he was advised of his constitutional rights. He acknowledged understanding those rights but refused to sign the advisement form.

He was subsequently booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next sitting of the District Court.

Neighbors in the area were also interviewed and confirmed both the disturbance and the relationship between the victim and the suspect.

Further investigation revealed that the suspect had been staying at the victim’s residence.

The suspect is identified as a 22-year-old US 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]