3 youth face sex charges involving young boys

Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Department of Public Safety, this week arrested three young men in two separate cases, charging them with sexual related charges involving young boys. The three defendants are each held on bail of $75,000.
 
In the first case, the government charges two brothers, from Sogi, Leone involving a six- year-old boy; and in the second case, a 17-year-old, from Tafuna has been charged involving two young boys, ages of 5 and 9.
 
All three defendants are being charged as adults.
 
The three defendants are represented by the Public Defender’s office while prosecuting is Deputy Attorney General Mitzie Jessop.
 
FIRST CASE: BROTHERS
 
The brothers are each charged with child molesting, deviate sexual assault, sexual abuse first degree, endangering the welfare of a child and furnishing pornographic materials to a minor. The defendants made their initial appearance in the District Court yesterday. Samoa News is withholding the names of the defendant to protect the identity of the young boy in this case.
 
The child molestation counts are B felonies, punishable from five to 15 years in jail, sexual abuse counts are class D felonies, punishable up to five years in jail, a fine of up to $5,000 or both while the endangering welfare of child and furnishing pornographic charges are class A misdemeanors punishable up to one year in prison, or fine of up to $1,000 or both.
 
According to the government’s case, on Dec. 29, 2012 it was reported to the Leone Substation that a six-year-old boy was allegedly drugged and sexually abused by the brothers. Court filing says, Detective Vasa Wells was assigned to investigate this case.
 
The government claims, the victim’s mother informed police that she called her son to come home to take a shower and the first defendant came out from his house carrying the victim and handed him over to his mother over a fence which separates the residences.
 
According to the government’s case, the mother further stated that she smelled a strong scent of marijuana and she asked her son why he smelled like cigarettes and the boy responded that the younger of the brothers made him smoke.
 
It's alleged the boy further stated the brothers, showed him (the boy) their private parts. The mother is alleged to have approached the defendants and confronted them, who in return were swearing at the mother. Court filings say, police met with older brother who denied any sexual act towards the boy, and said that he was watching movies with the boy on his laptop.
 
The older brother also denied conducting any sexual acts towards the boy and further stated that on Dec. 29, 2012 the boy came over to their house and he saw his brother put a cigarette in the boy’s mouth and told him to smoke.
 
The older brother further stated that he also saw his younger brother playing pornographic movies and was watching it with the young boy and then his brother pulled down his pants. Court filings say police spoke to the young boy who said the brothers made him smoke and they both pulled down their pants and made him (boy) perform oral sex.
 
According to the government’s case, the mother said her son has some developmental disabilities and the victim was interviewed by a UCEDD (University Center of Excellence on the Developmental Disability) specialist (who holds a Masters Degree in Forensic Psychology).
 
The boy told the UCEDD specialist that the defendants tied his hands with a rope and pulled down his pants and then they would show him (boy) their private parts and asked him to perform oral sex, which he (boy) did.
 
He further indicated that the he was scared of the younger brother, so he attempted to do anything the younger brother wanted. The boy further stated that he smoked with the defendants every time they were together and he (boy) felt dizzy and suffered headaches when he smoked.
 
SECOND CASE: TAFUNA JUVENILE
 
Despite the juvenile being charged as an adult, Samoa News is withholding the defendant’s name at this time. This alleged incident was first reported to police on May 8, 2012. The juvenile is accused of sexually abusing two boys, ages five and nine.
 
Detective Gaui Seanoa was assigned to investigate this case, says court documents. The defendant made his initial appearance in the District Court earlier this week.
 
The defendant in this case is charged with two counts of sodomy, two counts of sexual abuse first degree and endangering the welfare of a child.
 
The sodomy charges are class B felonies, punishable from five to 15 years in jail, sexual abuse counts are class D felonies, punishable up to five years in jail, a fine of up to $5,000 or both while the endangering welfare of child charges are class A misdemeanors punishable up to one year in prison, or fine of up to $1,000 or both.
 
According to the government’s case, the boys were interviewed by police in the presence of their father, where the nine-year-old said the defendant forced him and his younger brother to perform oral sex on him (defendant).
 
The nine-year-old further stated that when he refused the defendant would beat him or choke him, also the defendant threatened many times to kill him if he ever told anyone.
 
The five-year-old told police the defendant forced him to perform oral sex on him. Court filing says, the defendant would also touch the five-year-old on his private parts, and this was around Christmas time in 2011.
 
According to the government’s case, police interviewed the defendant in the presence of his mother. It’s alleged the defendant admitted that he had sexual contact with the five-year-old around May 6, 2012. Court filings say, the defendant told police that he was only playing a game with the boys and asked them to perform oral sex on him (defendant).
 
It’s alleged the defendant further stated that the five-year-old only bit the front part of the defendant’s shorts.
 
The government’s case claims, the defendant further told police he was just playing with the boys and one time he pulled down his shorts and told the boys to come eat his private parts and the five-year-old only performed oral sex for a second and then he pulled up his pants and walked away. 
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