Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man has been arrested on the allegation that he sexually abused an 11-year-old girl. The defendant, Atapana Luatua appeared in Court earlier this month for his initial appearance.

Luatua is charged with several felony charges including two counts of child molestation, a class A felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than ten years nor more than thirty years; two counts of rape and two counts of sodomy, all class B felonies, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five year nor more than fifteen years, and two counts of 1st- degree sexual abuse, both class D felonies, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

Bail for Luatua is set at $100,000.

THE CASE

Around 3:01pm on May 15, 2022, a woman and her 11-year-old daughter walked into the Central Police Station in Fagatogo to report a sex case involving her daughter and requested police assistance.

The 11-year-old girl was later identified as the victim in this case.

Investigators asked the victim if she’s comfortable talking to them alone or if she wants her mother present during the interview. The victim agreed for her mother to sit out while investigators interviewed her regarding what had allegedly happened.

(Samoa News points out that if the girl was 11-years old when the sexual abuse was reported, then she was 8 years old it began.)

According to the victim’s statement, she stated that the first time the defendant inappropriately touched her was mid June 2019 when her parents and her were about to leave for their summer vacation. The victim stated that that it happened during the night when the defendant’s wife was soundly asleep.

The victim further stated that on the same night she was very uncomfortable because the defendant was hugging her from the back and touching her inappropriately.

The victim said that when she came back with her parents from their summer trip, the defendant started to do the same thing to her. This happened in August of 2019.

She stated that from the month of August, the defendant would do the same thing to her once a week. The victim told investigators that she was very uncomfortable and confused about what was going on.

It was in the middle of March of 2020, according to the victim, when the defendant performed sexual acts upon her and again, she was still confused about what was happening and she was trying to figure it out why these things happened. The victim further stated to investigators that there was one time after the defendant performed sexual acts upon her where he told her that he loved her.

She told investigators that the defendant would do these things to her when they were the only ones at home or when his wife was asleep.

According to the victim, the last time the defendant allegedly touched her inappropriately was April 8, 2022 around midnight when everyone was sleeping.

The defendant was apprehended and taken to the CPS for questioning. He was Mirandized and agreed to answer questions.

According to the defendant, what the victim told them was a lie and that they are trying to set him up. However, when investigators asked the defendant again about an hour later, he confessed that he did do all the things which the 11-year-old victim said he did.