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Father of six to be jailed for statutory rape and sexual assault

A 55-year-old man who impregnated his wife’s 15-year-old stepsister was sentenced to serve seven years and 20 months in jail, as well as five years probation. The defendant was charged with three counts of statutory rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse first degree.

 

According to the signed agreement, the defendant is to enter a guilty plea to statutory rape and sexual assault and upon his plea of guilt, the government has moved for the court to dismiss the remaining charges. In the interest of protecting the identity of the victim, Samoa News will not name the defendant in this matter.

 

According to the signed plea agreement the defendant had sex with a 15-year-old girl.  He has agreed that upon his plea of guilt, he will leave the island and serve the remainder of his jail sentence outside of American Samoa. Despite the signed plea deal, the defendant begged the court for a second chance to go back home and look for a job to care for his wife and children. The defendant apologized for his actions and pointed out that repeatedly that he’s fully remorseful.

 

He also apologized to the girl in question, his wife, children and his family for degrading their good family name. The defendant’s wife also took the stand and pleaded with the court to be lenient in this matter as her husband is the breadwinner for their family and they have six children. The court heard from the wife that prior to the incident the defendant was the only one working, and at this time, they have no form of income at all.

 

However Chief Justice Michael Kruse pointed out that with this case, the court would change the way of sentencing in sexually related cases involving young children. He explained that in this case, the victim lived with the defendant and his family, however the defendant was treating this young girl as his second wife. According to the court, the defendant would go into where the victim was sleeping, wake her up to have sex with him, until the victim’s mother found out the girl was pregnant. It was also revealed in court that the victim gave birth to a baby girl.

 

For the statutory rape charge, Kruse sentenced the defendant to seven years in jail and for the sexual assault charge the defendant was sentenced to serve 20 months in jail as part of his five years probation. The court explained that the 20 months would be served consecutively with the seven years. After serving the jail sentences, the defendant is to leave the territory and serve his five years probation outside of American Samoa.

 

Kruse also ordered the defendant to pay a fine of $10,000, however that fine will be stayed. The defendant was warned not to try re-entering the territory within the five years probation.

 

Kruse also pointed that if anyone tries to sponsor the defendant, that person would be slapped with the $10,000 fine.