Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 29-year-old man accused of assault, causing trouble inside the family and sexually abusing a 14-year-old was arrested by police and he’s now in custody.

The suspect, Kilisimasi Faapisa, a.k.a Masi made his initial appearance in Court last month.

The government has filed two separate criminal cases against the suspect.

In the first case, he is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth, an unclassified felony, one count of 2nd- degree assault, a class D felony, along with one count of 3rd-d egree assault, one count of endangering the welfare of a child and PPD, all misdemeanors.

Bail in this case is set at $20,000.

In the second case, Faapisa is charged with one count of 1st- degree sexual abuse, a class D felony, along with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

Bail is this case is set at $20,000.

Preliminary examination is scheduled for next week.

THE CASE

According to the government’s case, it was on Oct. 15, 2022 about 6:10p.m when a woman contacted the TPS for assistance after a young man, identified as Masi (Kilisimasi Faapisa) had attempted to assault her and was causing trouble at their home in the Tafuna area.

Officers responded and met up with the reporter, who was also a victim in this matter, along with her three children, all females.

According to the reporter’s statement to officers, the suspect used to live at the house, however, her husband kicked him out after he attempted to rape their daughter.

The reporter, along with her three minor daughters were all transported to the TPS for further investigation. The suspect was not at the scene when cops arrived. The reporter said he fled after she told him she’s calling police.

According to the reporter’s statement, she woke up that morning and showered her 6-year-old daughter while the suspect was sitting on the couch in the living talking on his phone. Apparently the suspect was angry at the person he was talking with on the phone and that’s when he yelled out profanities while still on the phone, according to the woman.

She said she called out to the suspect saying that he’s being rude and disrespectful and he better get out of the house. That’s when he yelled and cussed at her and told her to shut up before he cut off her mouth with a machete.

With that she grabbed her daughter and they quickly walked away from the bathroom and made their way to the back of the house. However, she was shocked when the suspect walked over to her and swung the machete that he was holding. Luckily, she managed to run away taking her daughter with her. The suspect ran after them, reached out and pulled her daughter’s hair. He then slapped her daughter on the back of the head.

Leading up to this, earlier in the day the suspect had come to the house and apologized for what had happened two months prior and asked to be allowed back in the family.

The victim told the suspect she couldn’t answer his request because her husband was not on island and he was the only person who can answer that request.

When cops asked the victim about what happened between the suspect and her other daughter a few months ago, that’s when the victim decided to file a complaint against the suspect.

Cops proceeded to the suspect brother’s home in Malaeimi in an effort to locate him but he was not there. However, two days later on Oct. 17 about 6p.m, the suspect was apprehended in front of a store in Malaeimi and was taken to the TPS for questioning.

During a body search, cops discovered a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance inside the left pocket of his pants.

The suspect was Mirandized and refused to make a statement.

THE SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATION

According to the court documents, on the afternoon of Aug. 19, 2022, a 14-year-old female was sleeping while her parents, along with her two other sisters were at a church function.

It’s alleged around 4:46p.m, Kilisimasi Faapisa came home from work and walked to his room to change his clothes. As he was making his way to his room, the suspect noticed the 14-year-old victim sleeping on the bed in her parents room.

The suspect walked inside the bedroom and allegedly touched the victim inappropriately. The 14-year-old victim told investigators that she woke up after she felt someone touching her inappropriately. She opened her eyes and saw the suspect standing at the side of the bed. The victim said she yelled out to the suspect to get out of the room. The suspect immediately disappeared and left the house.

The victim informed her parents about what the suspect did to her. After a discussion with the suspect, the victim’s parents decided not to file a report to police but to kick the suspect out of their family.