Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On April 20, 2024, the Tafuna Police Substation received a call from a female individual reporting she had caught her stepfather on top of her sister.

The stepfather was later apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Rape (DV), a class B felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years and not to exceed 15 years, a fine of a minimum of $150., or both; and,

Count 2 & 3: Sexual Abuse in the First Degree (DV), a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years, a fine not to exceed $5,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $20,000.

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

According to the affidavit, on April 20th, at about 3:04 a.m, a female individual called the TPS reporting that she allegedly caught her stepfather on top of her sister and had chased her sister out of the house. The police officers advised the reporter to go look for her sister and have her call the police station so they could investigate if she was forced or was it consensual.

At about 4:11 a.m, the reporter called back and stated that she had found her sister, who stated that their stepfather forced himself on her.

Police officers met with the witness and victim at the bus stop located in front of the road not far from the scene of the incident, who picked them up and were directed to their home.

Upon arrival at the scene, the witness gave the officers permission to enter their home. The officers knocked on the suspect’s bedroom door, whereupon opening his door he was identified by the witness and victim as their stepfather and the suspect.

The suspect, with officers present, then dressed and was apprehended. He was  transported to the TPS for further investigation. The witness and victim were also transported to the TPS in another police unit.

According to the affidavit, the victim’s verbal and written statement stated that in November 2023 (she doesn’t remember the day) she went to sleep and at about 11:00 p.m she felt the suspect jump on her bed and caress her legs. She immediately pushed him away and ran inside the bathroom and locked it. When she returned to her room the suspect was gone.

The next incident occurred on April 20, 2024, according to the victim, who explained that she went to sleep at about 11:00 p.m, with her blanket covering her. She was sleeping in shorts and a bra. The victim said that she felt someone removing her blanket, and saw that it was the suspect.

The suspect covered her mouth with his hand and removed her bra slightly. He then started molesting her while holding her down for next 1/2 hour or so, and eventually removed her clothing, and raped her.

(The affidavit noted that the victim was traumatized and crying and shaking in fear while she was being interviewed.)

The witness’s verbal and written statement states that on the night (April 20, 2024) she came out of her room to go use the bathroom but heard a noise coming from their living room. She took a look and her stepfather (suspect) jumped off the victim and grabbed his ie lavalava (Samoan sarong).

She yelled and asked him what he was doing on the victim’s bed, and the suspect replied that he went to check on the victim. The witness stated that she asked him since when did he check up on her sister and told him she was disgusted with him doing these kinds of things when he is old and their mom was hospitalized at the ICU unit.

The witness said she told the suspect to leave but he told her that it is none of her business. That is when she turned to the victim and chased her out of the house, because she was very upset. The victim left the house.

According to the affidavit, the witness reported that was when she called the police station and reported what had happened and was told there was nothing the officers could do unless they could speak with the victim.

The witness stated she and her brother went looking for the victim and they were able to locate her. The witness explained that the victim was initially scared to come to her, but she told the victim that all she wanted was for the victim to tell the truth because she wanted the suspect jailed. The victim then told her what the suspect had done to her.

The suspect was Mirandized where he understood and agreed to make a statement and answer questions.

According to the suspect’s verbal and written statement, he admitted to caressing the victim’s body and molesting her, but the victim “moved away from his touch”. He added that he did not rape the victim, “he did not do anything else. He then left.”

The suspect was then booked for 48 hours, according to the affidavit, and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined.

The suspect is identified as a 53 year-old citizen of Samoa, while the victim is 19 years old and a US national.