Ads by Google Ads by Google

Man arrested for alleged domestic violence after multiple arrests for same charge

Court Report logo
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 30-year-old man who is on probation for assaulting his partner is now back in court on the allegation that he has again assaulted the same victim — his partner.

Ethan Mauga, who was also named when he was sentenced by the High Court in January of this year made his initial appearance in court last week.

He is charged with three misdemeanor charges including 3rd degree assault; private peace disturbance and resisting arrest, all involving domestic violence.

Bail is set at $2,000.

If he posts his bond, the court ordered Mr. Mauga not to have any direct or indirect with the victim in this case, his long time partner and his two young children.

The government alleged on Aug. 17 around 8:05p.m a man contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for assistance after he heard a woman, from his neighbor’s house, screaming for help while her male partner was allegedly beating her up.

Several police officers responded to the call and met up with the reporter, who stated to police that he heard his neighbor screaming and saying, “Mauga, stop hitting me,” and then he heard the victim say, “Somebody, please call the cops.” At that point, he immediately called the TPS for assistance.

The man further stated to police that this is not the first time he has heard the victim and Mauga argue or get into a confrontation.

Officers met up with the victim at her residence at which point she told investigators that she and Mauga had had a verbal argument. Investigators then requested to speak with Mauga. The victim went into the house and was heard arguing with Mauga again. Investigators then informed Mauga that he was going to be taken into TPS but Mauga told them that he wasn’t going to go to the TPS.

As Mauga tried to exit the back door officers apprehended him and transported him to the TPS.

BACKGROUND

In January of this year, Mr. Mauga was convicted of one count of private peace disturbance involving domestic violence, a class C misdemeanor; one count of criminal contempt, a class A misdemeanor; and one count of public peace disturbance, a class B misdemeanor.

He was sentenced to 15 days imprisonment and a $300 fine for private peace disturbance involving domestic violence. He was also sentenced to 6 months in jail and a $500 fine for public peace disturbance. For criminal contempt, he was sentenced to one year behind bars and a $1,000 fine.

The sentences were to run consecutively; however, execution of sentence was suspended and Mauga was placed on probation for 24 months subject to several conditions. He was to serve 90 days at the TCF, and was credited with the 78 days he had served in pretrial confinement. He also was ordered to to pay a $1,000 fine.

The court was also told that Mauga had appeared in District Court last year for 3 separate domestic cases involving the same victim. His first domestic violence conviction was a few years back, which also involved the same victim.