Ads by Google Ads by Google

Man allegedly rapes stepdaughter

American Samoa District Court

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 19, 2024, a mother walked into Tafuna Police Substation to report an alleged sexual assault of her daughter by the stepfather. The alleged victim is 14 years old.

The defendant was arrested and charged with the following:

Count 1 & 3: Sodomy (DV), a class B felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than 15 years, and a fine of not less than $150;

Count 2: Rape (DV), a class B felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than 5 years and not more than 15 years, and fine of not less than $150; and,

Count 4: Felonious Restraint (DV), a class C felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than seven years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $25,000.

(Samoa News has withheld names of those involved in this case to protect the identity of the victim who is a minor.)

According to the affidavit, the investigation into the matter disclosed that on August 19th, at around 11:19 a.m, a female individual walked into the TPS to report that her daughter had been sexually abused by her stepfather.

On the same day, at about 12:00 p.m, the officer interviewed the victim at TPS.

The victim verbally stated that in July 2024, the defendant told her 14-year-old brother to go outside and blow the grass. The defendant then locked all the doors and asked her to go inside her sister’s bedroom with him. The defendant stated she told the defendant “no” however, the defendant continued to force her by pushing her inside the bedroom. The victim explained that the defendant tried to kiss her on the lips but she refused him. The victim said that the defendant forced himself on her and raped her.

The victim also stated that the defendant threatened to kill her if she ever told her mom about what happened.

On August 18, 2024, the victim stated that she was told by her mother to warm up their food for dinner. She continued that she saw the defendant standing outside of the kitchen window calling her to come outside so they could have sex. The victim stated she said “no” to the defendant and then she told her mother what had happened.

On August 19, 2024 at about 2:55 p.m, the defendant was Mirandized and agreed to make a statement.

The defendant admitted that during the Summer of 2021, he sexually abused and molested the victim when she was 14 years old. He stated that he molested and sexually assaulted the victim multiple times.

The defendant also stated that on July 6, 2024 at around 5:00 p.m, he molested and sexually abused the victim inside the victim’s older sister’s bedroom and then raped her. According to the defendant’s verbal and written statement, July 6, 2024 was the first time he had sexual intercourse with the victim.

At about 4:22 p.m., the defendant was booked and confined to the Tafuna Correctional Facility for 48 hours to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 43-year-old citizen of Samoa.