Father allegedly abuses 13-year old daughter

By Samoa News staff reporters@samoanews.com Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 21, 2026, local authorities received a report of an alleged child abuse case involving a 13-year-old who was physically assaulted by her father. The defendant was later arrested and charged with: Count 1: Abuse of a Child (DV), a Class D felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed five (5) years and a fine not to exceed five $5,000; but not less than $150; and, Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one (1) year and a fine not to exceed $1,000 but not less than $150. The defendant was held without bail. (Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved to protect the identity of the minor who is also the victim.) According to the court affidavit, the investigation began after a woman familiar with the family brought the teenage girl to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) on March 21, 2026, to report the suspected abuse. The woman had previously been in a relationship with the defendant and maintained regular monthly contact with the victim. Investigators say the victim contacted the woman on March 20 asking to be picked up, but she was unable to do so until the following day. When the woman later saw the girl, she reportedly noticed a dark bruise around the victim’s left eye and immediately asked what had happened. The victim disclosed that her father had physically assaulted her inside their home several days earlier. The matter was subsequently assigned for criminal investigation. During an interview conducted at the police station on March 21, the victim reportedly described the events leading up to the alleged abuse. According to investigators, the victim told police that on March 18 she had been instructed by her father to watch her one-year-old stepbrother and prepare tea for the children in the home. While carrying out the task, the victim nearly stepped on a toy and almost fell. The victim reportedly believed her stepmother interpreted the incident as disrespectful behavior or an act of defiance. Police say the stepmother then began scolding the teenager, after which the defendant allegedly approached and joined the confrontation. The victim further stated her father began hitting her during the argument and punched her in the nose hard enough to cause bleeding. The girl also later told officers she immediately felt unsafe inside the home following the incident. The next day at school, the victim reportedly informed one of her teachers about the injuries to her face. Court documents note that the teacher was also related to the victim. According to investigators, the teacher later confirmed that the victim disclosed the alleged assault to her at school. However, the teacher reportedly admitted she did not report the matter to authorities because she was occupied with other responsibilities at the time. Police documented several visible injuries during the investigation. Authorities personally observed a dark bruise around the victim’s left eye, as well as bruising on her neck and right arm. The defendant was later interviewed by investigators on March 22 after being Mirandized and agreed to provide a statement regarding the allegations. According to the defendant, he admitted disciplining his daughter after confronting her about allegedly returning home late from school and suspected dishonesty involving a boy. The defendant also told officers he believed his daughter had lied about staying after school to complete homework after hearing reports from other students. He also admitted slapping the victim during the confrontation. The defendant claimed the victim raised her hand to shield her face, causing his hand to strike her hand before ultimately making contact with her face. Police say the defendant stated he intended to discipline his daughter because he believed she had previously been disobedient and difficult to control. As a result of the investigation, authorities contacted the Child Protective Services, which removed the victim from the defendant’s physical custody. The teenager was later placed in the care of the woman who originally reported the abuse to police. The matter remains before the court for further proceedings. The defendant is identified as a 39-year-old U.S National. The affidavit was filed in the District Court on April 22, 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.] Section: Local News Tags: court report
2026-05-14 17:42:21