Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 28, 2026, a distressed pregnant woman walked into the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) early in the morning and reported that her boyfriend allegedly assaulted her.

The defendant was later charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance, a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 15 days, a fine of not more than $300, or both such imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree, a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 15 days, a fine of not more than $300, or both such imprisonment and fine;

Count 3: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both; and,

Count 4: False Imprisonment, a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the court affidavit, the woman/ victim walked into the FPS seeking assistance after allegedly being assaulted by her boyfriend, Petelo Tinoga.

Officers on duty observed that she was visibly shaken, crying, and appeared distressed. Blood stains were also noted on her white t-shirt, indicating she had sustained physical injuries prior to arriving at the station.

During the initial interview with the victim, she explained to police that the altercation began earlier that morning while she and the defendant were at the Fagatogo Market intending to purchase breakfast. What initially seemed to be a minor disagreement quickly escalated into a heated argument.

The victim stated that before exiting the vehicle at the market, she attempted to apply makeup to conceal marks on her neck. This action reportedly angered the defendant, who insisted that she should not cover the marks. The disagreement intensified, and although they left the market area together, the argument continued as they drove eastbound toward Satala.

According to the victim, the situation turned violent while the defendant was still operating the vehicle. She alleged that Tinoga struck her multiple times on the left side of her face with a closed fist and the assault did not end there.

She stated that once the vehicle was parked near the Satala area, the defendant continued his attack, repeatedly punching her, pulling her hair, and choking her by applying pressure to her neck.

The victim further claimed that during the assault, the defendant made threatening statements, warning her of more severe violence once they returned home. She described fearing for her life at that moment, particularly as he was choking her.

Despite the alleged attack, the victim managed to resist and eventually escaped from the vehicle. She flagged down a passing motorist and pleaded for assistance. The driver agreed to help and transported her directly to the FPS, where she reported the incident.

During the course of the interview, the victim disclosed in a fearful and emotional state that she is pregnant. She expressed deep concern that the assault could have jeopardized her pregnancy and the safety of her unborn child. She also revealed that the abuse was not an isolated incident, but rather part of an ongoing pattern of violence and threats carried out by the defendant over time.

Investigators later confirmed that the victim and the defendant reside together in Pago Pago, at a home owned by the victim, further highlighting the domestic nature of the case.

Following the interview, the victim provided a written statement detailing the events of the morning. She also supplied officers with a description of the defendant’s vehicle along with its license plate number. Acting on this information, officers were dispatched to search for the suspect in areas east of Fagatogo, including Aua, where he was believed to have fled.

However, before officers could locate him, Mr. Tinoga voluntarily turned himself in at the FPS. Upon arrival, he was taken into custody for questioning.

During his interaction with officers, the defendant initially admitted to striking the victim. However, he later recanted his statement and denied that any assault had taken place. He declined to provide a written statement regarding the incident.

Authorities confirmed that the matter remains under active investigation.

The defendant is identified as a 30-year-old citizen of Samoa.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on March 30, 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.]