Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 14, 2026, local police officers responded to a reported domestic disturbance at a residence in Leone, where a man was accused of threatening to burn down his home with his family inside.

The defendant was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class B misdemeanor, a penalty enhancement by one class above the class otherwise provided a class C misdemeanor; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree, a class B misdemeanor, a penalty enhancement by one class above the class otherwise provided a class C misdemeanor.

The defendant was held without bail.

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

According to the court affidavit, the defendant was causing a peace disturbance at his residence, and the report alleged that the defendant was shouting profanities and making serious threats toward his wife and children, including statements that he would burn the house down with them inside.

At approximately 2:03 p.m., police officers responded to the call and upon arrival, officers encountered a woman outside the residence along with two young children who were visibly distressed, crying and in a state of panic.

Officers immediately began to calm the victim and assess the situation.

During the initial interview, the victim became emotional and directed officers toward the residence, indicating where the defendant was located. She informed officers that the incident was not an isolated occurrence, stating that her husband had a history of making threats toward her and their children, particularly after waking from sleep. She reported that he frequently shouted Samoan profanities in front of the children, creating an atmosphere of fear within the household.

The victim further alleged that earlier that day, at approximately 12:20 p.m., the defendant woke up and went into the kitchen area holding a propane gas tank. She stated that he called out to her while holding the tank and threatened to burn down the house with their children inside.

According to her statement, the defendant repeatedly threatened to “burn you all alive,” causing her to cry out for help and prompting the children to panic.

The victim also told officers that she feared for her life and the safety of her children, especially in light of the defendant’s prior behavior. She stated that following his recent release from custody in an unrelated matter, the defendant resumed making threats against her, including warning that he would harm her if she ever contacted the police again.

The victim expressed concern that the situation could escalate further if the defendant were to be released.

Officers also interviewed one of the couple’s children, an 11-year-old boy, who confirmed that he witnessed the incident and heard his father threaten to burn the family and their home. The child stated that he was frightened during the incident and described how his father grabbed his mother by the arm and dragged her into the living room while making threatening statements.

He recalled his father saying words to the effect of, “This is our last time together,” which further heightened his fear.

The child also informed officers that no neighbors were available to assist during the incident and expressed ongoing fear of his father, particularly if he were to be released from custody.

Following the interviews, officers approached the defendant at the scene, placed him under arrest, and transported him to the Leone Police Substation (LPS) for further investigation. The defendant was advised of his constitutional rights. According to the affidavit, he acknowledged understanding his rights but refused to provide a statement regarding the incident.

Authorities later confirmed that the defendant has a history of prior incidents involving the victim. Court records indicate that he was previously arrested for assaulting the victim and had also been taken into custody for violating a protection order. In one prior incident, he was found inside a relative’s home in violation of court-imposed conditions.

Based on statements gathered during the investigation, including those from the victim and the couple’s children, officers determined that there was sufficient cause to proceed with charges.

The defendant was subsequently booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility, where he remains pending the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 40-year-old U.S National.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on March 19, 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.]