Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On October 10, 2025, authorities investigated an alleged sexual assault case that involved a 67-year-old suspect and an 8-year-old minor.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to five years, a fine not to exceed $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Endangering the Welfare of a Child, class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both; and,

Count 3: Assault in the Third Degree, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

Court records revealed that on Oct 10th, around 8:20 a.m., an officer was assigned to investigate a complaint regarding an eight-year-old minor. The reporter alleged that the minor (victim) was subjected to inappropriate touching by Keti Aleni (hereinafter suspect).

Authorities interviewed the victim in the presence of the reporter, and according to the victim, the incident happened on Oct 9, 2025, at about 2:00 p.m. at the Aiga Mart Store.

She explained that she was standing in front of the store when the suspect suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. He then kissed her on the mouth and down to her clothed chest area. At the same time, he used his hands to feel her body.

The minor stated that she was in her school uniform, and that she was scared because she did not know the suspect and did not like that he was touching and kissing her.

Police officers also interviewed the reporter, who is the primary caregiver, while her mother is the legal guardian. She explained that she received a call from her cousin about the incident, and she went to the store to request a review of the surveillance camera footage. She stated that she recorded the surveillance video using her phone.

The officers viewed the recording and saw the suspect acting in the manner described by the victim during her interview.

After the interviews, the officers proceeded to locate the suspect. They found him at his residence — a strong odor of alcohol was also emitting from the suspect. The suspect was apprehended after he confirmed his identity.

The suspect was later Mirandized but refused to sign the forms, but did spontaneously utter that he had been drinking since the day before when the incident happened.

He was later booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility, to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 67-year-old citizen of Samoa.