Man accused of assaulting his wife after she refused to hand over children’s documents
By Samoa News staffreporters@samoanews.comPago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 20, 2026, police arrested a man in connection with an alleged domestic assault on his wife in Ili‘ili after she reported being punched repeatedly in the face and later threatened with death, according to a police report.The suspect was later arrested and charged with:Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine;Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both;Count 3: Trespass, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of not more than $500, or both; and,Count 4: Burglary in the First Degree, a class B felony punishable by a term of imprisonment for five to fifteen years.The defendant was held without bail.(Samoa News has withheld names of those involved to protect the identities of the minors involved.)According to the court affidavit, filed in District Court on Jan. 22nd, the victim contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) at about 8:00 p.m. to report that her husband had assaulted her and fled the scene. She told officers the suspect may have returned to his family’s residence in Ottoville.Police units were immediately dispatched to the victim’s location.When officers arrived, they found the victim visibly shaken and emotionally distressed. She was identified and interviewed at the scene.The victim told police that she and the suspect no longer live together because of his ongoing drug use and pattern of abusive behavior toward her. She also explained that their landlord had begun the process of filing for a restraining order to prevent the suspect from entering the property where she lives with their children.The victim stated that at the time of the incident, she was washing her children’s clothes by hand in an outdoor bathroom area located near their home. Her children were nearby while she was doing the laundry. She said the suspect suddenly approached her and demanded that she hand over the children’s birth certificates and Social Security cards.When she refused and asked him why he wanted the documents, the suspect became angry.According to the victim, while she was bent over washing clothes, the suspect struck her from behind on the left side of her face. She said she turned around and was hit again twice on the same side of her face before she could react. She reported that the blows caused immediate pain and shock.A family member who witnessed the incident intervened and attempted to pull the suspect away from the victim. The victim told police she warned the suspect that she was going to call the police. At that point, the suspect left the area with their 9-year-old son.The victim explained that the child normally lives with the suspect’s parents in Ottoville, and that both she and the suspect have legal custody of the children. She said the suspect’s departure with the child caused her additional fear and concern.During the interview, the victim complained of soreness in her jaw and said she felt a cracking sensation when she moved it. Officers offered to call an ambulance for medical treatment, but the victim declined and said she would be okay.Police took photographs of her face, noting redness in the area where she reported being struck multiple times. No major visible injuries were observed at the time, but the victim continued to complain of pain.The victim also told officers that this was not the first time the suspect had assaulted her. She said similar incidents had happened many times in the past, which was the reason they no longer lived together. She expressed fear for her safety and for the safety of her children.A witness, who is related to both the suspect and the victim, provided a statement to police. The witness said she went outside the house to plug in a light near the laundry area because it was dark. While doing so, she heard the suspect arguing with the victim and demanding certain documents from her. Moments later, she saw the suspect punching the victim multiple times in the face.The witness stated she stepped in to help by pulling the suspect away from the victim. She further told officers that this type of incident had occurred repeatedly in the past and that family members were “tired of it” because the violence often happened in front of the children.Both the victim and the witness later provided written statements to police.After completing their interviews, officers were told that the suspect could likely be found at his family’s home in Ottoville.Police went to Ottoville in an attempt to locate the suspect, however when officers arrived at the residence, a family member informed them that the suspect had fled out the back of the house when he saw the police unit approaching.Officers searched the surrounding neighborhood using flashlights but were unable to locate him at that time.Officers returned to the residence and obtained a photograph of the suspect’s identification for future reference. Family members were advised to contact police immediately if the suspect returned to the house.The following day, police received another report from the victim. She stated that her in-laws had contacted her and warned her that the suspect had returned to the Ottoville residence. According to the victim, the suspect was threatening to go to her home in Ili‘ili and kill her.Police units were again dispatched to the Ottoville residence after receiving the report. However, by the time officers arrived, the suspect had fled the area once more.Officers canvassed the surrounding neighborhood on foot. During their search, they located the suspect behind a neighboring property as he attempted to run away. He was apprehended without further incident and taken into custody.The suspect was transported to the TPS, where he was Mirandized. Police reported that the suspect refused to provide a statement regarding the incident.He was later formally booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.Police noted that the case involved repeated allegations of domestic violence and threats made in the presence of children. The matter has been referred for further legal proceedings.The suspect is 33 years old and a citizen of Samoa.[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]Section: Local NewsTags: court report
2026-02-18 18:36:46