Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 10, 2026, a concerned mother and her 15-year-old daughter were interviewed regarding an alleged rape case.

The defendant was later charged with:

Count 1, 3, & 5: Rape, a class B felony punishable b y a term of imprisonment of not less than five (5) years and not more than fifteen (15) years; and,

Count 2, 4, & 6: Sexual Assault in the First Degree, a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of u p t o five (5) years, a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved to protect the identity of the minor involved.)

According to the court affidavit, police officers were assigned to investigate an alleged rape case regarding a 15-year-old. They interviewed the victim and her mother and revealed that on March 5, 2026, the victim was at the Fagatogo wharf where she met the suspect. The victim stated that they talked for a while and then went to the suspect’s house where they had sex twice and again on March 7 and March 10, 2026.

The suspect was later interviewed and corroborated the victim’s statement that he met the victim at the wharf on March 5th. He asked the victim why she was there and she told him that she was waiting for her cousin. Later, the victim told him she was hungry and he offered her food at his home. They went to his house behind the FPS and he later asked the victim about her age and he claimed that she told him she was 18 years old.

Moreover, the suspect claimed that they had consensual sex and he did not force the victim and that she willingly wanted to have sex with him.

The defendant is identified as a 30-year-old citizen of Samoa.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on March 12, 2026.

[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.]