Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Bail is set at $5,000 for Afasene Hunkin who is charged with child abuse and third degree assault for allegedly punching his 11-year-old nephew and then striking the boy with the flat end of a machete.

Hunkin, 29, made his initial appearance in District Court yesterday morning.

According to the government's case, it was last Saturday that the DPS Leone substation was contacted for assistance after the victim, a minor, ran to a nearby house "seeking help", claiming his uncle (the defendant) had "hit him with a machete".

When police arrived, according to the criminal complaint, they were told that Hunkin had been escorted back to his home. Investigators say that on their way to Hunkin's residence, they met up with the defendant, who was walking back to the home of the individual who had called police.

Hunkin was apprehended and transported to the Leone substation. Cops say they detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from him.

Hunkin was booked and transported to the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) where he was placed on a 48-hour hold while his arrest warrant was being processed.

Meanwhile, back at the Leone substation, EMS personnel had been contacted to render aid to the victim, who sustained injuries from the alleged assault.

Both the victim and his grandmother were interviewed by police.

(The boy's grandmother is a witness, and she is the defendant's mother).

During questioning, the victim said he was talking to his grandmother at home and "he was surprised to see the defendant walking towards him with a machete". The boy claims his uncle "punched and hit" him, and he "became scared" and that's when he ran to his aunt's house for help.

According to the victim's grandmother, she was inside her home talking with her grandkids when she heard a door open, then shut. She said she saw the defendant, and he was entering the bathroom.

The victim went to see who was using the restroom, and shouted back to his grandmother, that it was the defendant. According to the court affidavit, the boy jokingly made a comment about Hunkin taking a dump, and that's when the defendant allegedly asked the victim, "Are you teasing me? You wait when I am done!"

The witness told police that moments later, she saw Hunkin approaching the victim, while holding a machete. She said Hunkin punched the victim "several times" and then "hit the victim with the flat side of the machete".

The witness told police she held the defendant and told the boy to run to his aunt's home.

The government alleges that Hunkin — "with anger" — walked up to the victim, who was sitting on a chair, and "violently punched" the boy with his fist. The punch resulted in a contusion "about the size of a golf ball" on the area below the victim's left eye.

Police also claim that Hunkin "swung the machete and struck the victim" with the flat side, leaving an impression on the boy's left rib area.

Investigators described the boy as "terrified and helpless" and noted that Hunkin "did not stop, but desperately ran after the victim", as if he was "eager to cause the victim more bodily harm."

According to the criminal complaint, after Hunkin was taken into custody, a body search uncovered a "glass pipe in his pocket."

The machete used in the alleged attack has been turned over to the DPS evidence custodian.

A preliminary examination hearing for Hunkin is set for tomorrow, Feb. 7.

Abuse of a child is a class D felony that carries a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of $5,000 or both. Third degree assault is a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

Hunkin is represented by Assistant Public Defender Anna Wells while prosecuting for the government is Assistant Attorney General Jason Mitchell.