Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 41-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl was arrested two weeks ago.

Valaau Sione made his initial appearance in District Court last week. He is represented by Assistant Public Defender Ryan Anderson, while prosecuting the case is Assistant Attorney General Jason Mitchell.

 Sione is charged with 2 counts of rape, 2 counts of deviate sexual assault, 2 counts of first degree sexual abuse — all felonies — including endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor.

Judge Fiti Sunia established Sione’s bond at $50,000.

If he is able to post bond, the defendant will be released on the following conditions: he has to make all of his court appearances, he is not to leave or attempt to leave the territory; surrender all his travel documents to the government; and make no direct or indirect contact with the victim. If he encounters her in public, he must walk away peacefully.

The government claims that on Sept. 9, 2018 the mother of the 15-year-old victim reported to police that her daughter was allegedly raped by a man who lived with another family in Tafuna.

The mother told police that around 6:35p.m on Tuesday, Sept. 9, her daughter (victim) and her 8-year-old son went to the store to buy a box of chicken for their family. A few minutes later, she saw her son returning home, alone — without her daughter.

The 8-year-old boy told his mother that his sister was talking with “Spunky” in front of the road. Spunky was later identified as Valaau Sione, the defendant.

The mother then instructed her 8-year-old son to go tell the victim to come home; however, when the boy got to the road, his sister and Sione were not there. The mother then went out looking for her daughter but was unable to find her.

The girl finally appeared at home around 7:12 p.m. When asked by her mother, the victim explained that she was talking with Spunky at his shack, which is located within his plantation. The mother became angry and called the cops.

When questioned by police, the girl said she and Sione have had a friendly relationship since July of this year.

She explained that during her first meeting with Sione, he gave her money and food. He also gave her cigarettes whenever she asked. Around August of this year, she was on her way to the store when Sione called out to her and asked her to come and hang out with him at his shack.

The victim told police that she agreed and when they were in the shack, Sione sexually assaulted her.

She said the second time she was with Sione inside his shack was Sept. 9 after she returned from the store with her little brother. Again, she claims, Sione asked her if she could hang out with him inside his shack. She agreed and went with him.

When they got there, they talked for awhile before Sione sexually assaulted her. The girl claims that she left the shack after she heard her mother calling her name as it was getting dark.

Police had a hard time trying to locate Sione. He was not at his house when officers stopped by. After almost a month, Sione turned himself into police.

When asked about the alleged incidents, Sione admitted that he was having a friendly relationship with the victim. He admitted that he gave the girl money, food, and also cigarettes. Furthermore, he also admitted that he sexually assaulted her twice, and she had consented both times.

Sione’s case was bound over to High Court, after he waived his rights to a preliminary examination.

When he appeared in High Court last week for arraignment, he entered a not guilty plea to all the charges against him.

He remains in custody, unable to post bond. He is scheduled to appear in court next month for his pretrial conference.