“The police interviewed the three juveniles and learned that the defendant has a disturbing sexual appetite for young boys,” said Chief Justice Michael Kruse when handing down a 24 year sentence for former ASCC instructor James Barlow, who was found guilty of numerous sex counts in connection with sexually related activity involving three male juveniles, along with some traffic citations.

Following a bench trial with the Trial Division of the High Court last year which found Barlow convicted of 16 of the 19 criminal counts, the majority of these charges are alleged sex-related offenses against three juvenile boys with initials L.B., T.L. and T.T.

Sentencing was handed down last week by Chief Justice Michael Kruse, Chief Associate Judge Logoai Pereira and Associate Judge Fa’amausili Pomele. During sentencing, Kruse allowed the defense counsel to merge several of the criminal charges.

At the hearing, Defense Counsel Lupe Leupolu pointed out to the court the defendant has no prior record and alleged that he’s sick and could die in the jail, if he does not leave island to get medical treatment which is not available on island.

Assistant Attorney General Tiffany Oldfield claims that Barlow showed “absolutely no remorse” and has continued to deny his actions. She also said that he “has an excuse for everything.”

The prosecutor said this case started off with a traffic stop, and it wasn’t until months later that the boys came forward, and it was not easy for them, given the shame of what happened.

The Assistant AG pointed out to the court that Barlow showed no sense of responsibility for his actions. She said when the probation officer spoke to Barlow he threatened that if he does not get the sentencing he wants he will appeal this all the way to the Supreme Court.

Maybe he does have PTSD, as claimed by defense counsel as he’s been in jail and while in jail he was put into a confinement cell because he was masturbating on his cell mates and touching them inappropriately.

“He wants to put the blame on everyone else just like he did during this case, just like he did while in jail, everything.” She asked the court for maximum jail time for the defendant, saying this is what he deserves in this case.  

Kruse pointed out that the defendant’s vehicle was observed swerving by the police, and it appeared the vehicle was not in the driver’s total control. He said that upon encountering the vehicle, police found that the defendant was under the influence of alcohol and he had three juveniles in the car, who were also drunk.

Kruse stated that at the police station, the juveniles were booked for underage drinking however a subsequent investigation found that Barlow had been promoting underage consumption of alcohol. “The police interviewed the three juveniles and learned that the defendant has a disturbing sexual appetite for young boys.”

Of the three juveniles involved, two were 14 years old while one was 17 at the time of the incident.

Kruse sentenced the defendant to 24 years in jail. He pointed out that while the government asked for the maximum sentence of 39 years, the court has taken into account that Barlow is 67 years old with a medical condition. The court’s sentencing is for straight 24 years and the CJ said Barlow can take it up with parole.

Barlow was an instructor at the American Samoa Community College when the incident occurred, and he was immediately terminated.

He was charged with two counts of sodomy, deviate sexual assault with an incapacitated person, two counts of deviate sexual assault with a child, two counts of sexual abuse first degree, three charges of furnishing pornography materials to a minor, three counts of aiding a child to posses or consume alcohol, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a DUI charge, careless driving and non possession of a driver’s license. The non-possession of driver’s license charge was settled prior to trial.