Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The case against a man accused of sexually abusing his 16-year-old niece was filed in Court last month. During his arrest, cops allegedly discovered drugs in his possession and inside his vehicle. The 44-year-old uncle, made his initial appearance last month.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth) and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, both unclassified felonies, along with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, a class D felony; and two class A misdemeanors: third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

The defendant is on probation for 5 years after being convicted for unlawful possession of meth in 2018.

Bond is set at $30,000.

If released on bond, the defendant is to abide by standard conditions, in addition to finding someplace else to stay, as the alleged crime took place in the same compound where both the defendant, and the victim and her family reside.

The defense attorney informed the court that his client can reside with his brother and his family, who did not live in the same village or area.

The sexual abuse was reported to police on Apr. 19, 2022 by the mother of the alleged victim, who called police that her 16-year-old daughter had allegedly been sexually abused by a man who is well known to their family as a taxi driver. The man was later identified as the victim’s uncle, the defendant in this matter who also lived with his family 50 yards away from the victim’s family.

The minor victim was interviewed by police in the presence of her mother. The victim told police that it’s been three months now since the suspect sexually abused her on three different occasions.

The defendant was not at his house when officers went looking for him and his wife told officers that he was driving his taxi and he sometimes sleeps over at the taxi stand. Officers tried to locate the defendant but he was nowhere to be found.

Last month, the defendant was apprehended at his brother’s house in Kokoland and was transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for questioning. Before he was transported to the TPS, he was patted down for weapons. During the body search, officers discovered a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance, inside the defendant’s pocket.

Officers also searched defendant’s vehicle and discovered one hand rolled cigarette (joint) inside the vehicle.

When questioned by investigators regarding the alleged sexual abuse, the defendant said it was the victim who asked him to come to her room. He further claims that it was the victim who forced him to touch her body inappropriately.

 When questioned about the drugs found in his possession and inside his vehicle, the defendant said he found the drugs after he had dropped off a passenger. He said he put the glass pipe inside his pocket and left the joint on the floor under the passenger’s seat.