Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 4, 2024, a female individual called the Tafuna Police Substation to report her brother who allegedly assaulted her minor daughters and then threatened to hit her.

The defendant was apprehended and charged with:

Count 1 & 2: Endangering the Welfare of a Child (DV) (enhanced), a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment for a term up to five years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both fine and imprisonment; and,

Count 3: Assault in the Third Degree (As a class C Misd.) (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $1,000.

(Samoa News has withheld names of those involved to protect the identities of the minor victims in this case.)

According to the affidavit, on August 4th, at about 7:41 p.m, a female individual contacted the TPS to report her brother who had allegedly assaulted her two minor daughters ages six and eight. The suspect also allegedly threatened to punch her. The incident occurred at her home.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival met up with the female individual who briefed the officers about what had happened.

According to the mother of the minors, she had just finished taking a bath, when she heard her 6-year-old and 8-year-old daughters screaming. She walked into the living room with her towel on and her kids ran towards her crying and saying that their uncle hit them with a tree branch.

She said she confronted the suspect about why he had hit her kids but he grabbed the tree branch again and her 8-year-old daughter. Moreover, the suspect then threatened her by trying to punch her while her kids were around her screaming.

The mother then explained that her father also told her that her brother had slapped her 8-year-old several times and yelled at her saying to stop spreading gossip. The mother told the officers that the suspect was at his house and directed them to where the suspect lives.

Upon arrival at the suspect’s house, police officers announced themselves and when the suspect came to the door, he was quickly apprehended.

At about 7:50 p.m, an eyewitness (father of the suspect and victim) was interviewed where he verbally stated that he was laying on his bed when he saw his son (suspect) chasing the 8-year-old minor and striking her several times with a tree branch that he had. He then yelled at the suspect telling him “stop it, that’s enough” and his son left his room.

Before the officers left, they informed the mother of the minors to bring her children to the TPS to be interviewed and be treated by EMS.

The officers then transported the suspect to the TPS to be processed.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the officers contacted the EMS and informed them about the assault case and were told they were on their way.

At about 8:26 p.m, one of the officers interviewed the 8-year-old victim where she explained that her uncle chased her from the living room to her grandpa’s bedroom and started striking her with a tree branch repeatedly on her lower back. She further stated that she screamed for help since her back was hurting and she couldn’t bear the pain. She also explained that she was lucky that her grandpa was in the room and told her uncle to stop.

At about 8:29 p.m, EMS arrived at the TPS and treated the minors. Both victims did not sustain any visible injuries and the mother declined any further medical treatment for her kids.

At around 8:31 p.m, the 6-year-old minor was interviewed where she said that her uncle hit her with a tree branch repeatedly and she ran towards her mother for help.

The suspect was Mirandized and he agreed to make a statement.

According to the suspect, he was innocent and claimed that he did no such things [sic]. He claimed that he only confronted his nieces about gossiping [sic]  and also confronted his sister for being immature.

The suspect was booked at the TPS and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined and await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 37-year-old citizen of Samoa.