Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A church minister has been charged with a sexual case involving his 18-year-old niece. 

Samoa News will not name the defendant to protect the victim's identity. The defendant, who appeared in the District Court yesterday, is being held without bail at the Tafuna Correctional Facility. He is facing charges of sodomy and felonious restraint, which are both felonies and carry a combined jail term of up to 22 years.

According to court documents, the victim's school principal reported this matter to the Department of Public Safety last week. Police were informed that the victim’s parents are in Samoa for a family obligation. 

Court documents state that the incident occurred last week, when the 18-year-old victim was sleeping and felt someone touching her in a sexual manner. When she woke up, she discovered it was her uncle who was touching her inappropriately on her chest and private areas.

The criminal complaint noted that the victim fought off the defendant, but she was unsuccessful. 

Court filings say the victim stated that her body went into shock and was shaking out of fear during the incident, and that she was frightened, scared, and traumatized.

It's alleged that after the sexual misconduct, the defendant told the victim not to say anything to anyone.

The next day, the defendant was conducting his daily routine of dropping his daughter and niece off at school. The victim stated that the suspect usually drops her off at school first, but that day it was different — the suspect first dropped his daughter off at work before dropping her off at school.

After the suspect dropped off his daughter at work, he was alone inside the vehicle with the victim, to whom he stated in Samoan, “just because people get ordained to be Pastors or Reverends doesn't mean we don't get lustful feelings,” court documents outline.

Following the interview with the victim, the police went to the defendant’s residence in Faleniu. 

During the interrogation, the defendant initially denied any wrongdoing; however, as the interview progressed, the investigator outlined the alleged sexual misconduct, and it's alleged that the defendant then cried and admitted to the sex crime.