Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 5, 2026, local authorities investigated a complaint brought by Child Protective Services (CPS) regarding a 14-year-old minor who was pregnant.

The investigation resulted in the arrest of a 22-year-old male, who was later charged with:

Count 1, 2, 5, & 8: Rape, a class B felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five (5) years and not more than fifteen (15) years;

Count 3, 4, 6, & 9: Deviate Sexual Assault, a class C felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to seven (7) years, a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both;

Count 4, 7, & 10: Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment o f up to five (5) years, a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both; and,

Count 11: Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment of not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

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

According to the court affidavit, the officers interviewed both the victim and suspect, who is the alleged father of the victim’s child.

The victim was interviewed on March 5, 2026, at approximately 9:45 a.m., at the CPS office in the presence of her mother. According to the interview, it was alleged that on July 30, 2025, the victim and the suspect began a romantic relationship which became sexual in August 2025.

Furthermore, in early August 2025 and the last week of August 2025, the first two incidents of sexual intercourse occurred inside a vehicle parked at the suspect’s uncle’s mechanic shop in Malaeimi. In October 2025, further sexual incidents were alleged to happen, with two of them occurring in the victim’s bedroom at her home and another in the back of the vehicle at the suspect’s uncle’s mechanic shop.

Three more incidents happened in November 2025 and December 2025. In January 2026, there was one more sexual incident which resulted in the minor becoming pregnant, and as of the date of the interview she was approximately 19 weeks pregnant.

On March 5, 2026, at around 12:53 p.m., the officers interviewed the suspect at the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS). According to the suspect, in July 2025, he began a romantic relationship with the victim which became sexual. He admitted having sex with the victim approximately 20 times, including in 2026 when they had sex approximately five times.

The suspect claimed that he could not recall the exact dates of the incidents due to the high frequency. However, he confirmed that all the encounters occurred almost exclusively late at night, extending into the early morning hours of the following day and in three specific locations — the victim’s bedroom, his bedroom and inside a vehicle at his uncle’s shop.

The suspect also acknowledged the severity of his legal situation, stating that he was aware that he was “in trouble with the law”.

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

The defendant is identified as a 22 year-old U.S National.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on March 6, 2026.

[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.]