Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On May 23, 2026, Dave Tolentino was arrested and charged following a domestic violence investigation that revealed a pattern of alleged abuse spanning several years.

Tolentino was charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not more than $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to court records, a woman walked into the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) at approximately 4:30 p.m. to report that she had been assaulted by Tolentino several days earlier. During the initial interview, officers observed visible injuries, including bruising on her right upper forearm and around her right eye.

Following the interview, officers accompanied the woman to the apartment she shared with Tolentino in Petesa so she could retrieve personal belongings and safely leave the residence.

Upon arriving at the apartment, officers observed Tolentino attempting to prevent her from leaving. He was immediately detained and transported to the TPS for questioning.

The subsequent investigation revealed that the reported assault occurred on May 19, 2026, after the woman returned home from work. An argument reportedly developed over several Facebook accounts that the victim maintained to communicate with relatives living in the Philippines.

Investigators learned that disputes regarding the social media accounts had become a recurring source of conflict throughout the couple's four-year relationship. Tolentino allegedly believed that conversations with male contacts on the accounts were evidence of infidelity, despite repeated explanations that the individuals were family members.

The woman stated that whenever Tolentino gained access to the accounts, he would review private messages, delete conversations, and block contacts he believed were inappropriate. Confrontations would often follow, eventually escalating into physical violence.

She described a long history of abuse and stated that similar incidents had occurred repeatedly during the course of their relationship. Fear of retaliation allegedly prevented her from reporting previous assaults to law enforcement. She explained that she believed contacting police would result in further violence.

The May 19 confrontation reportedly began when Tolentino questioned her about messages exchanged through one of the Facebook accounts. As the argument intensified, he allegedly became physically aggressive.

The investigation revealed that Tolentino allegedly slapped and punched the victim in the face, punched her in the stomach, kicked her, scratched her back, and grabbed her by the neck.

Officers later documented injuries consistent with portions of her account, including visible bruising to her forearm and facial area.

Although the assault occurred several days before it was reported, the victim continued residing at the apartment.

However, the situation allegedly escalated again on May 22 when Tolentino confronted her about the same Facebook accounts. While no physical assault was reported that day, she stated that she feared another attack was imminent.

After enduring years of similar incidents, she decided to seek help from law enforcement, she explained. Investigators noted that the report was made only after she reached what she described as her breaking point.

The investigation was supported by statements from a co-worker who observed the victim's injuries shortly after the alleged assault. During a lunch break, the co-worker noticed bruising on the victim's forearm and near her eye, and became concerned about her wellbeing.

When questioned about the injuries, the victim reportedly disclosed details of the abuse. The co-worker encouraged her to report the matter to authorities. The victim responded that she had been afraid to come forward because she feared what Tolentino might do if she contacted police.

After being transported to TPS, Tolentino was Mirandized and agreed to speak with investigators. Due to vision difficulties and the absence of his eyeglasses, he did not provide a written statement but agreed to give a verbal account.

During questioning, Tolentino acknowledged that arguments concerning the Facebook accounts frequently led to conflict. He admitted that he often suspected the woman of being unfaithful because of communications he discovered involving male contacts. He stated that he did not believe her explanations that the individuals were relatives and admitted that his anger intensified during their arguments. He further acknowledged that these confrontations regularly resulted in physical violence.

Initially, Tolentino characterized his actions as merely slapping and grabbing the victim; but, when investigators challenged that description after comparing it with the extent of the observed injuries, he subsequently admitted to assaulting the victim on May 19.

He acknowledged punching her in the face, grabbing and throwing her, causing scratches to her back, and leaving scratches on her chest while grabbing her by the neck. He also admitted causing bruising to her hand and right forearm.

Investigators concluded that the injuries documented during the interview were consistent with the conduct described during the investigation.

The inquiry further revealed that the apartment where the incident occurred was rented under Tolentino's name and had served as the couple's residence for several years.

Authorities also discovered that both parties remain legally married to different spouses residing in the Philippines. Despite those marriages, they had been involved in a relationship and living together in American Samoa for approximately four years.

Upon completion of the investigation, Tolentino was formally booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility, where he remained pending his appearance before the District Court.

The government subsequently charged Tolentino with offenses arising from the alleged assault. The matter remains pending before the court.

The defendant is identified as a 54-year-old citizen of Philippines.CThe affidavit was filed in the District Court on May 26, 2026

As with all criminal cases, the allegations outlined in court filings remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision.]