Man charged for allegedly punching his girlfriend in the face

By Samoa News staff reporters@samoanews.com Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On June 11, 2026, a man was arrested for punching his girlfriend during a domestic dispute in the village of Puapua. The defendant, Samuelu Taunaola was later charged with: Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both; Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both; and, Count 3: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine not more than $1,000, or both. The defendant was held without bail. According to the court affidavit, officers from the Leone Police Substation received a report at approximately 7:02 p.m. from a concerned individual requesting police assistance after learning that a woman had allegedly been assaulted outside her residence in Puapua. The responding officers immediately traveled to the location to investigate the report. Upon arriving at the residence, officers made contact with the victim, who was visibly shaken by the incident. She agreed to provide investigators with a statement regarding what had occurred. The victim informed police that the defendant is her boyfriend and that the two had become involved in an argument shortly before the alleged assault. According to her statement, Taunaola confronted her over accusations that she was involved in a relationship with another man. The affidavit also stated that the defendant had become jealous after believing the victim was having an affair. The victim denied the accusation, but investigators were told that the disagreement quickly escalated into a physical confrontation. According to the victim, Taunaola suddenly struck her in the mouth and lips with his left fist. The unexpected punch caused her pain and left her frightened for her safety. Fearing that the situation could escalate further, the victim immediately ran from the area and sought refuge at a nearby neighbor's residence. Because she did not have a cellphone with her at the time, she asked the neighbors to contact the LPS and request immediate assistance. Police responded promptly to the emergency call; however, by the time officers arrived at the residence, the defendant had fled the area. After ensuring that the victim was safe, officers interviewed her for details regarding the incident. She explained the events leading up to the assault and identified Taunaola as the individual responsible for striking her. Following the interview, the responding officers began searching the surrounding Puapua area in an effort to locate the defendant. Police canvassed nearby roads and locations where the suspect was believed to frequent, but despite their efforts, they were unable to locate him that evening. Before leaving the area, officers spoke with residents living nearby and advised them to immediately notify the LPS if Taunaola returned to the neighborhood or attempted to contact the victim. The affidavit also revealed that investigators relied on the victim's account of the incident to identify the defendant and establish his involvement in the alleged assault. Police concluded that there was probable cause to believe Taunaola intentionally struck the victim during a domestic dispute, disturbing the peace and causing physical injury. The case remains pending before the District Court. The defendant is identified as a 39-year-old U.S National. The affidavit was filed in the District Court on June 12, 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
2026-06-26 16:47:23