Man allegedly burgles home in search of food

By Samoa News staff reporters@samoanews.com Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On June 21, 2026, a man was allegedly accused of unlawfully entering a residence in the village of Aua, reportedly in search of food. He was later arrested and charged with: Count 1: Burglary in the Second Degree, a class C felony punishable by up to seven years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine; Count 2: Trespass, a class B misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed six months, a fine of not more than $500, or both; and, Count 3: Property Damage in the Third Degree, a class B misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed six months, a fine of not more than $500, or both. The defendant was held without bail. According to the court records, police received a call reporting that a man, later identified as Jared Mageo, had unlawfully entered the residence. The caller provided responding officers with a description of the suspect, stating that he was wearing a red long-sleeved shirt and black pants. Several officers from the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) responded to the call. While traveling to the residence, officers observed a man matching the description near a store in Aua, close to the village boathouse. The suspect noticed the approaching patrol unit, and attempted to flee on foot. Officers ordered him to stop, and after a brief pursuit, he was apprehended at approximately 6:00 p.m. without further incident. He was then transported back to the residence while officers continued their investigation. Upon arriving at the scene, officers met with a witness who resided at the home with the victim. Investigators learned that the residence belonged to another individual but was occupied by the victim and the witness. The witness told police that he heard the family dog barking outside the residence and went to investigate. As he looked outside, he observed a man wearing a red long-sleeved shirt and black pants climbing over the fence and fleeing from the property. Although the witness did not actually see anyone inside the home, he later discovered that the screen covering a rear window had been cut or torn and that the nearby door frame had been damaged. When questioned by officers, the witness immediately identified the individual he had seen fleeing as the defendant. The witness further stated that this was not the first time he had heard of the defendant being involved in similar incidents. According to the witness, he was aware of previous occasions in which the defendant had allegedly entered other people's homes without permission. Officers conducted a walkthrough of the residence and observed damage consistent with forced entry. Police reported that the screen wire on a rear window had been torn open and that the wooden door frame adjacent to the window showed fresh damage, including splintered wood. Despite the apparent forced entry, investigators found no evidence that the home had been ransacked, and nothing appeared to have been stolen or disturbed inside. The defendant was transported to the FPS for questioning. Before the interview, officers conducted a pat-down search and discovered a screwdriver inside the defendant's right pants pocket. Police described the tool as being approximately seven inches long. Investigators advised the defendant of his constitutional rights where he acknowledged understanding those rights, voluntarily waived them, and agreed to provide a statement. During the interview, the defendant admitted entering the residence without permission. According to his statement, he had been extremely hungry and decided to enter the home in hopes of finding something to eat. He admitted damaging the screen covering the rear window before reaching through the opening to unlock the back door with the screwdriver found in his possession. The defendant further admitted that the screwdriver recovered during the pat-down was the same tool he used to gain entry into the residence. Once inside, he said he searched for food, and did not encounter anyone in the house. He told investigators that after standing in the living room for a short time, he realized he had made a serious mistake by entering someone else's home. He then left through the same back door he had used to enter. The defendant also acknowledged that he knew the residence was occupied by the victim and the witness before entering the property. Police reported that nothing was taken from the home and that no additional property damage was discovered beyond the damaged window screen and door frame. Court documents also noted that the defendant is known to the Department of Public Safety from previous property crime investigations, although no additional details regarding those incidents were provided. The defendant was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court. The affidavit was filed in the District Court on June 24, 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
2026-07-08 17:07:00