Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 18, 2024, an elderly woman contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) regarding an alleged “peeping Tom” who entered their home unlawfully.

The defendant was apprehended and later charged with:

Count 1: Burglary in the Second Degree, a class C felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than seven years, a fine of $5,000, or both;

Count 2: Trespass, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $500, or both; and,

Count 3: Damage to Property, a class B misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.

According to the affidavit, on August 18th, at about 2:29 a.m, an elderly woman (later identified as victim 1) reported an alleged burglary. The victim claimed that a male by the name of Pulali (later identified as Paia Fono) broke into their home.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival met with the victim 1 and victim 2 ( husband) who are both stroke patients. The elderly victims invited the officers inside their home where they briefed them about what happened.

According to the victim #1, this is the second time that the defendant came to their house and looked inside their house window.

On August 18th, early in the morning, the defendant tore their house window’s screen wire and jumped inside the house. The defendant walked to where their room was and opened the door and looked inside their room where her husband (victim 2) saw the defendant and yelled at him. The defendant took off and ran to the back door and left.

Victim #1 then contacted the TPS and reported the defendant, who is also a family member, saying that this is not the first time he has done this.

Victim #2 also made a statement where he explained that he suddenly woke up when the door opened and he clearly saw the defendant looking at him because the bedroom light was on. He continued that he yelled out to the defendant, but he took off and left.

Victim #2 directed the officers to the defendant’s house, which is the third house down from the victims’ residence.

At the defendant’s alleged house, the officers met an unknown female and asked her for the defendant’s whereabouts. The female pointed to the defendant sleeping inside the living room.

Officers approached the defendant and woke him up and asked him regarding the incident. The defendant replied “that he was sleeping and he didn’t know anything.”

The police officers asked the defendant what time he got home, and the defendant replied that he was at home at around 7:00 p.m. However, the unknown lady jumped in and stated that the defendant was lying, because they were home at 7:00 p.m and they did see the defendant at the house.

Police then informed the suspect that they were going to go to the victim’s house to confirm if he was the person that they saw inside their home.

During the encounter with the defendant, the officers detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from the defendant’s breath and person.

Upon arrival at the victims’ residence at about 3:20 a.m, the officers presented the suspect in front of the victims and they confirmed that it was the same man that broke into their home. But, the defendant continued to state that he didn’t do anything

The suspect was placed inside the police unit and was transported to the TPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the defendant was Mirandized where he said he understood and signed the form. The suspect was questioned regarding the incident and asked why he broke into the couple’s home.

The defendant took some time to think and was also reminded by the officers that there were witnesses. who confirmed that he was the person who broke into the victims’ home.

The defendant finally admitted that he broke into the victims’ house by entering from the side window of the house. The defendant stated that he tore up a screen wire from the window, removed four louver glass and jumped inside. The defendant admitted that he went through the house and opened a room’s door but when he looked inside he saw an old man looking at him. He explained that he ran away when the elderly man yelled “HEY!” at him.

Police officers asked the defendant why he went inside the victims’ home and again he took time to think about it. The officers then confronted the defendant regarding a prior case involving the victim’s sister and her daughter where he was also accused of being a peeping Tom. When the officers asked the defendant if he was being a peeping Tom again, the defendant nodded yes.

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

The defendant is identified as a 45-year-old U.S National.