Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On February 2, 2025, a neighbor called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported an alleged assault on a female individual, who was later identified as a minor. An investigation in the matter later revealed that she was allegedly raped and assaulted by her uncle.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Sodomy, a class B felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to fifteen years;

Count 2: Rape, a class B felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to fifteen years;

Count 3, 5 & 7: Assault in the Second Degree (DV), a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 4, 6, & 8: Abuse of a Child (DV), a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine.

There was no bail set bail stated in the affidavit for the defendant.

According to the court affidavit, on Feb. 2nd, at approximately 7:25 p.m., a female individual (later referred to as the reporter) contacted the TPS to report a potential domestic disturbance involving a man allegedly assaulting a female, who may be his spouse.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival, they were signaled by the reporter. The reporter told the officers she witnessed a female being assaulted and dragged to the opposite side of the yellow house.

The reporter identified the location of the house and indicated the presence of several teenagers who also witnessed the alleged assault.

Following the report, the officers proceeded to the yellow house identified by the reporter and upon arrival, they were able to identify the individuals associated with the reported incident. The female involved was a 14-year-old minor (later referred to as the victim); and the man was also identified as the victim’s maternal uncle (later referred to as the suspect).

During the officers’ assessment at the residence, they observed the victim leaning against her aunt and sobbing, exhibiting signs of significant distress. Also present at the residence was the suspect’s brother.

During the investigation, the officers noticed that the suspect had already vacated the premises. The victim’s aunt provided a statement and said that the victim sustained injuries as a result of an altercation with the suspect which occurred when the victim got home late.

Both the victim and her aunt were taken to the TPS for further investigation and medical treatment for the victim.

On the same day, officers were also able to interview another witness who stated that about 7:00 p.m., the suspect approached the victim and “commenced verbal abuse which escalated to physical violence.” The suspect allegedly choked the victim with both his hands and forcibly pulled her to the ground.

Subsequently, he dragged her towards a nearby tent where he wielded a plank of wood, approximately 1X 3 in size in which he used to assault the victim. The plank of wood reportedly broke due to the repeated strikes inflicted upon the victim.

A piece of the 1X 3 wood was recovered at the scene and was photographed and secured as evidence.

The victim was subsequently transported by the EMS to the LBJ Medical Center for medical treatment.

The victim’s aunt was also interviewed at the station and she reported two separate incidents of assault in which the victim was assaulted by the suspect. She mentioned that the parties involved resolved their differences privately.

The affidavit further stated that based on the victim’s aunt’s behavior during the interview, it appeared that she was concealing the fact that these assault incidents had been ongoing and that there was a reluctance to report it.

The victim was interviewed and she revealed that the suspect had committed sexual acts against her before the assaults.

Based on this information, the authorities contacted the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for further investigation and assistance since it appeared to be a felony case.

CID officers interviewed the victim in the presence of her aunt and as the interview started noticed that the victim was not fully cooperating while providing her statement.

The officers suggested to the victim’s aunt to allow the victim to speak privately with them to gather more details regarding the claims of sexual offenses that were mentioned earlier. Following the recommendation, the victim’s aunt stepped out of the interrogation room.

According to the victim’s interview, she disclosed that in August of 2023 when she was only 12 years old and was about to start school as an eighth grader. Her father was in the shower and she was somewhere in the living room area. The suspect entered her grandparents’ house and asked her for a “chore favor”, calling out to her to come inside his room, but she was scared and told him “no”; and she walked out of her grandparent’s house.

Later that night, her father was asleep in the living room while she was sleeping inside her room. She stated that she noticed a light flashing through her window. The victim continued that she didn’t bother to look but instead went straight to sleep.

The next morning, the victim explained that she was walking towards her grandparents’ house and the suspect grabbed her hand and stopped her. He then asked her why she didn’t come to see him last night. She brushed off his grip and walked into the grandparent house.

Moreover, the victim stated that a few weeks after the first incident. She was sleeping with her 17-year-old sister in the grandparents’ bedroom. — she was on the bed and her sister was on the floor right by the bed — when late at night she felt someone touching her. She opened her eyes and saw the suspect inappropriately touching and caressing. When the suspect noticed that she was awake, he immediately left the bedroom.

She also accounted that in April 2024 when her dad traveled to Apia for a funeral, she was sleeping with her sister inside their grandparents’ room , when the suspect entered the room and walked towards the bed and he quickly removed her clothes. When she woke up, she saw the suspect standing naked by the bedside. He then got on top of her and told her in Samoan saying “ Don’t make a sound, I will kill you!” and then he raped her. After he was done, he got up, wrapped his lavalava back on and left the bedroom without a word.

The victim stated that she was shaking and frightened after he raped her, and she tried to wake her sister up, but she was dead asleep. She also stated that she couldn’t go back to sleep because she was scared, embarrassed and felt violated.

Then on one of the nights between September and October 2024, she and her sister were sleeping in their grandparents’ bedroom, again, when the suspect entered the room and was surprised to find that her sister was awake. He quickly exited the room. Later that night, he sent her sister a message and told her not to tell anyone that he had come into the room.

The next morning, her sister informed their aunt and uncle about the previous night and they instructed the girls to lock the doors before sleeping. The following morning, the suspect attempted to enter the bedroom again but he was surprised to see her sister was awake and again he quickly left.

They informed their aunt and uncle again and they told and advised them again to always lock the door before sleeping.

Also, during the victim’s interview, it was later revealed that there were other unreported assaults. One which occurred on January 9, 2025 just a few days after New Year.

The victim explained that she was assaulted by the suspect at night while walking home from church after a church event. She said that the suspect approached her when he noticed she was walking alongside another male individual. He then attacked her with a plank of wood, hitting her while also pulling her hair.

Fortunately, bystanders urged the suspect to stop and reminded him that they had just finished church activities. The suspect then threatened one of the kids from church and told him that he was going to get his gun.

Then, on Jan. 23rd, another incident happened whereby the suspect became angry because she came home late. In a fit of rage, he assaulted her repeatedly with a plank of wood which resulted in a visible bruise on her calf.

The officers took photos of the bruises as they were still evident at the time.

On Feb. 2nd, the victim explained that she was walking with her sister and other church members when she saw the suspect approaching them. He shouted at her and asked her “where she had been, with a plank of wood”. When she glanced at her sister and turned her head forward, she suddenly felt the plank of wood strike her on her right ear and neck.

At that time, her sister ran home and informed aunt and uncle while the suspect continued to hit her (the victim) on her back, buttocks, and legs. He then dragged her to her grandparents’ house where she noticed her aunt and uncle were still inside.

Shortly after, she saw the police at the house but the suspect was nowhere to be seen. The victim concluded that she believes that “the truth is, the suspect was acting out of jealousy and didn’t want her to associate with other men or boys.”

The defendant (uncle) was taken to the TPS and later questioned by the CID. He was Mirandized and stated he understood and agreed to make a statement.

The suspect verbally admitted that there was intercourse between him and the victim. However, the suspect claimed that it only happened once, a long time ago. He also mentioned being approached by the victim’s uncle, aunt and his sister and the matter was discussed.

Moreover, the suspect also acknowledged that he hit the victim with a plank of wood and this incident occurred twice. He explained that he used a plank of wood as an instrument to assault the victim. However, he declined to say anything regarding the other assaults reported by the victim.

Written statements in Samoan for the separate incidents (Rape and Assault Incidents) were also provided by the suspect.

Subsequently, the suspect was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined, pending an arrest warrant.

Follow-up was also conducted regarding the victim’s injuries, as the victim was seen by an attending physician.

The affidavit states that “the victim suffered mild asymmetry on the side of her face, accompanied by soft tissue swelling”. There was also bruising and swelling on her neck area. In addition, there was a large 10-inch weal and swelling across her back spanning from shoulder to shoulder blade. This area of bruising measured to 3 to 4 inches wide, suggesting that a rectangular object had been used to strike her back. Furthermore, there was another inflamed weal measuring 10 inches long and 3 to 4 inches wide which was imprinted diagonally from the left to the medial aspect of her lower thigh. X-ray showed no fractures.

Social Services Child Protective Services (CPS) were also summoned to the TPS for assistance and took the victim into their care. A Sexual Assault Forensic Examination was also requested for the victim which was coordinated by Social Services

The defendant is identified as a 32-year-old U.S National.