Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Correction Officers have recently been charged with the alleged assault of a juvenile detainee in their custody, raising serious concerns about safety and oversight within the facility.

The individuals facing charges, Nick Sekai, Maureen Saupo, Fiafia Fiafia, and Chris Auvele, are currently being held on bail of $500 each.

The case has attracted attention following a report by the acting Director of the Department of Corrections, who received multiple complaints regarding the officers' behavior at the Juvenile Detention Center (JDC).

Court filings say the troubling allegations began to surface after a juvenile detainee escaped from the JDC on December 30, 2024. The detainee was apprehended 13 days later, on January 12, 2025 and upon his return to the JDC, the officers secured him in his cell before departing the facility.

According to the juvenile's account, once the police left, Officer Fiafia allegedly struck him through the bars of his cell, warning him to “wait for the guys who are coming.” Five minutes later, the juvenile reported that Fiafia, Sekai, Saupo, and an unidentified inmate entered his cell.

In a disturbing sequence of events, the juvenile was reportedly ordered to strip down to his underwear and was handcuffed. He was then subjected to repeated punches, which forced him to the floor.

During the altercation, one of the Correction Officers reportedly pulled on his arms while the inmate held his legs down, further amplifying his distress. The juvenile noticed that the officers were filming him during the incident. 

Subsequently, he was taken to another room where a different Correction Officer allegedly struck him with a plastic bucket, and another officer reportedly slapped him three times across the face. The traumatic experience left the juvenile feeling so terrified and isolated that he contemplated suicide.

In a another encounter, three days later, one of the officers, Chris Auvele came to his cell and allegedly punched him in the face three times, causing visible injury, including a bleeding nose.

The following day, the juvenile reported the abuse to another officer, initiating a crucial step towards seeking justice for the alleged mistreatment he endured in the detention facility.