Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 13, 2026, a woman was charged with third-degree assault following a land dispute in Nu’uuli that escalated into a physical altercation. The incident took place on November 8, 2025.

The defendant, Amuia Teo, was charged with Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the court affidavit, filed in District Court on Feb. 13, 2026, the incident took place at approximately 9 a.m. in the Coconut Point area of Nu’uuli. Court documents indicate that the matter was investigated by police from Nov. 8, 2025, through to December 2025, by police investigators, with charges filed in Feb. 2026 by the Attorney General’s Office.

NOTE: During the initial response to the scene, Amuia Te'o was interviewed as the reporter of the incident. However, after further investigation and corroboration of statements from the victim and witnesses it was determined that she was the suspect in the alleged assault of the victim, and was advised of her constitutional rights.

The matter reportedly began as a verbal disagreement between the defendant and members of another family regarding the use and maintenance of a portion of communal land. Authorities indicate that the disagreement quickly intensified, ultimately leading to physical confrontation.

Investigators learned that the defendant had previously planted several coconut trees on the disputed land and had been maintaining the area for some time. She reportedly believed she had the right to oversee and care for the land, especially while certain family members were off-island. However, members of the other family involved stated that they were acting under direct instructions from their matai to clear the land, remove the coconut plants, and clean the area designated as their family’s portion.

Court documents reveal that on the morning of the incident, individuals from the opposing family were working on the land, removing coconut plants and tires that had been placed around them. The defendant approached the group and confronted them, demanding that they stop their work and return the coconuts to their original positions.

Witnesses stated that the defendant was yelling and appeared upset as she attempted to halt the ongoing work. Despite her demands, the individuals continued their work, reportedly believing they were following proper authority. It was at this point that the situation escalated further.

The defendant allegedly began throwing coconuts at an individual who was attempting to remove tires from around the plants in order to mow the lawn. Authorities say the defendant then moved closer and physically pushed the individual when he refused to comply with her instructions. The confrontation intensified moments later when the defendant allegedly struck him on the right side of his face with an open hand while holding a cellphone in her other hand.

According to the victim’s account, he became angry following the alleged assault but chose not to retaliate physically. Instead, he later informed authorities of his intention to pursue legal action.

Police responded to the scene and conducted interviews with both parties, as well as witnesses.

While officers attempted to mediate and de-escalate the situation, efforts were unsuccessful as tensions remained high. The defendant reportedly maintained that the land was communal and that all family members had rights to it.

The family matai later arrived at the scene and confirmed to authorities that he had instructed his family to remove the coconut plants and clean the land. He explained that the plants had been placed there without proper authorization and that the area in question falls within his family’s designated portion of communal land. 

He also noted that the dispute between the two families has been ongoing for several years and has been the subject of multiple prior reports, many of which were referred to Samoan Affairs for resolution.

Additionally, the matai stated that there is an existing court order affirming that the land should remain in its current state, further complicating the matter and contributing to continued disagreements between the families.

Following the preliminary investigation, authorities determined that there was sufficient evidence to proceed with charges against the defendant. She was later advised of her constitutional rights and provided a statement in which she acknowledged confronting the individuals and throwing a coconut during the incident.

Despite the physical nature of the altercation, no visible injuries were observed on the victim at the scene, and he did not require medical attention.

Due to the circumstances surrounding the case, including the underlying land dispute, authorities elected to release the defendant pending further legal action. The matter was then referred to the Attorney General’s Office for review and determination of prosecution.

The defendant is a US National.