Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 45-year-old man from Fagasa who is accused of sexually abusing his 11-year-old stepdaughter was arrested by police this week.

(Samoa News has decided to withhold the name of the stepfather, to protect the 11-year-old. It should be noted that the Court affidavit provides the name of the stepfather, but the victim is referred to only as F.F)

The defendant made his initial appearance before District Court Judge Fiti Sunia yesterday morning. He was represented by Assistant Public Defender Anna Wells, while prosecuting the case was Assistant Attorney General Christy Dunn.

The Fagasa man is charged with six felony charges, including sodomy, a class B felony, punishable by an imprisonment from 5 to 15 years; attempted rape and 3 counts of 1st degree sexual abuse, both class D felonies. He’s also charged with endangering of a child, a class A misdemeanor.

Judge Sunia established the defendant’s bail at $75,000.

If he posts his bond, the court orders the usual caveats, including not to have direct or indirect contact with the victim in this case, or any of the government’s witnesses.

During his initial hearing proceedings yesterday, the defendant’s defense attorney informed the court that her client wished to waive his rights to a preliminary hearing, and let his case be bound over to the High Court for further court proceedings.

He is scheduled to appear in High Court this morning for his arraignment.

THE AFFIDAVIT

The government case against the defendant was reported to police by the secretary of the Le’atele Elementary School in Fagasa on Oct. 25, 2018. The secretary called the Central Police Station and reported that a student, who was only identified in the court affidavit as F.F, was allegedly sexually abused by her stepfather.

Sgt. Margie Alofaituli was assigned to investigate this alleged incident. The victim in this case is a 11-year-old girl.

The school secretary told police that F.F was seen at her neighbor’s house last month and the following day at school, she asked F.F why was she at her neighbor’s house, to which she responded that she had run away from home because she was scared of her stepfather.

F.F told the school secretary that her stepfather would hit her with an extension cord, threaten her and had forced her to do adult stuff.

F.F later left to stay with her mother’s sister in Fagasa.

The school secretary further told police that lately since the incident, F.F’s behavior has changed a lot: She seemed unhappy, lost, confused and depressed.

The school secretary also stated to police that on Oct. 25, when F.F walked into the main office, F.F told her that she was scared. And that’s when she contacted the police for assistance.

The secretary also stated to police that on their way to the police station, F.F told her that her stepfather had sexual abused her by performing adult stuff on her.

F.F was interviewed by police where she presented to police her written statement in the Samoan language. Her written statement to the police was translated.

The government claims that according to F.F, the defendant is her stepfather and that her biological father passed away.

The first alleged incident happened in September of this year when she was sleeping next to her stepfather. During this time, he allegedly touched her private parts through her clothing. She was afraid and was threatened by her stepfather to not tell anyone or he would beat her with a wire or extension cord.

The second alleged incident happened around midnight, the defendant watched a X-rated movie and when the movie ended, he allegedly threatened and forced F.F to take off her shorts and allegedly performed sexual acts on her. F.F said that she cried because it hurt.

F.F told her mother about what happened and her mother told her to leave it to her she would talk to her husband about the incident. Whereby, being afraid she ran away from home.

F.F’s teacher noticed the change in her behavior and advised F.F to be positive, strong and write a journal of incidents that she alleges happened to her. F.F’s journal was seized and in her journal, F.F talks about not being loved and that her stepfather and her mother are not her real parents.

F.F further wrote that the defendant is a bad person and mentioned her experience of what he had done to her — including how her stomach and her back hurt.

Her journal entries also include an incident of her stepfather sexually abusing her after watching a sex movie, and about one night when he tried to rape her but she cried saying it hurt. She also noted that her mother was sleeping at the time when her stepfather allegedly tried to rape her.

Police were able to interview two witnesses regarding this matter. The victim’s mother and the victim’s mother’s sister.

The victim’s mother told police that on Sept. 2, 2018, F.F told her about her stepfather touching and rubbing her private parts, and she then told told F.F to leave it to her to confront him. She said when she did, the defendant told her he would never do such things to F.F anymore.

The victim’s mother also stated to police that F.F no longer stays with her; she is staying with her sister (the victim’s aunt).

The victim’s mother’s sister told police that during the second week of September, she received a call from F.F asking her to pick her (F.F) up; and she and her husband then went and picked F.F up and brought her to their house.

And, it was during that same week she strongly counseled her sister (the victim’s mother) and the defendant about what had happened to F.F. It was during that conversation that the stepfather apologized and asked for forgiveness.

Police apprehended the defendant at his home and interviewed him at the Central Police station. He was warned and read his Miranda Rights, whereby he said he understood and waived his rights and agreed to write a statement.

The defendant admitted hitting F.F with an extension cord twice and throwing a phone at her which hit the wall.

However, he denies the allegations of sexually abusing his stepdaughter. He further stated to police that he loved his stepdaughter very much and he would not do such things to her.