Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 4, 2025, officers responded to a reported residential break-in at a private home in the village of Nuʻuuli.

Aukuso Lepupa Fale was later charged with the following:

Count One: Property Damage in the Third Degree - a Class B misdemeanor, punishable for up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to $500, or both;

Count Two: Trespass - a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count Three: Burglary in the Second Degree - a class C felony, punishable by imprisonment not more than seven years, a fine, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the affidavit, filed in District Court on Dec. 8, 2025, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from a female resident of Nuʻuuli reporting that an unknown man had broken into her home and was sleeping inside her living room.

Officers responded to the call and arrived at the residence at approximately 6:10 a.m. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the homeowner, who provided a verbal statement and allowed them to enter the residence to observe the scene.

The homeowner explained that earlier that morning, at approximately 5:00 a.m., she had been preparing to leave her home to attend church service when she heard noises coming from her living room. Concerned, she went downstairs and discovered an unknown man lying on the floor of her living room, asleep and using her personal belongings, including her pillow, blanket, and electric fan.

The presence of the man inside her home caused her immediate fear and alarm.

The homeowner stated that she woke the man and asked why he was inside her home. The male allegedly responded that he was hungry. She told the man to leave the house, which he did without further confrontation.

She later informed the officers that she regularly saw the individual roaming in the area and that neighbors later identified him by name as Aukuso Lepupa Fale.

During their inspection of the residence, officers were shown the point of entry used by the defendant — a kitchen window where the screen wire had been forcibly torn, allowing entry into the house. Officers observed visible damage consistent with a forced entry and documented the scene by taking photographs of the damaged window, the living room area where the individual had slept, and the homeowner’s purse.

The homeowner further reported that the defendant had gone through her purse, which had been placed on a table inside the house. Although the purse had been searched and its contents removed, she stated that nothing appeared to be missing at the time.

Officers asked whether any other items were taken or damaged, and the homeowner confirmed that no additional property loss had been discovered.

The homeowner also informed officers that her residence was equipped with security cameras; however, she was unable to access the footage because she did not know the password. Despite this, she provided a physical description of the suspect and stated that a neighbor had told her the individual’s name.

Based on this information, officers later identified the suspect as the defendant named in the criminal complaint.

After the initial response, officers searched the surrounding area at around 6:45 a.m. in an attempt to locate the defendant. These efforts were unsuccessful, and the defendant was not found at that time.

Further investigation revealed that the defendant had prior contact with the DPS and a known criminal history.

The defendant is identified as a 27-year-old US National.

[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. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court. ra]