Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 20, 2024, a male individual contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) regarding another male individual that allegedly broke into his house a month ago.

The reporter of the alleged burglary was later arrested with three other males for assaulting the victim. The three are Pio Lito, Tommy Correia and Unless Lemauga.

Both Lito and Correia were charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than five years, a fine not to exceed $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both.

Lemauga was charged with Counts 1 & 2: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both.

Bails for defendants are as follow:

Correia’s bail was set at $10,000.

Lito’s bail was set at $5,000.

Lemauga’s bail was set at $1,000.

According to the affidavit, on August 20th, at about 7:52 p.m, TPS received a call from Lito (later identified as suspect #1) regarding a male individual that he and his sons assumed broke into his house about a month ago.

Police officers answered the call and upon arrival observed four male individuals, with three of the males standing over a male individual whom they had subdued.

A police officer approached the older male later identified as Lito (suspect #1).

Lito stated to the responding officer that the male individual they caught had broken into his home. He continued that they beat the victim by kicking and punching him in the head before he (Lito) struck the victim in the head with a 2 X 4 board.

The responding officer apprehended the victim, later identified as James Fitiao, and placed him inside the police unit to be transported to the TPS for further investigation of the matter.

Lito (suspect #1), Lemauga (suspect #2) and Correia (suspect #3) were also apprehended and transported to the TPS.

The victim was interviewed at the TPS — he was crying and told police that they beat him over a suspicion, and that they poured gasoline on him and tried to burn him. He also stated that the old man (suspect #1) hit him multiple times with a 2 X 4 board.

Due to the severity of the victim’s injuries EMS was contacted and he was treated at the TPS before being transported to the LBJ Hospital for further assessment.

According to the affidavit, the victim suffered from: 1) A fractured eye socket; 2) Laceration and abrasions all over his face, arms, legs and body; and, 3) Laceration to the front portion of his head.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the male individuals involved in this matter were interviewed separately.

At about 8:53 p.m, Correia was Mirandized and waived his rights, agreeing to provide a verbal statement.

According to Correia (suspect #3), he had no involvement with what happened. He said that he was fixing his uncle’s refrigerator and he was startled when he saw police units in front of his uncle’s home.

Suspect #3 was informed several times that the victim identified him as one of the individuals that beat him. Moreover , the suspect was asked about the victim — who reeked of gasoline — to which he replied that he didn’t know anything, and stated he did nothing.

At about 9:09 p.m, Lemauga (suspect #2) was also Mirandized and waived his rights. He agreed to provide a verbal and written statement.

According to suspect #2, he heard his dogs barking near the guest house, and due to the recent break-ins around his house he came out to see why his dogs were barking.

He said he saw a male individual walking while pushing a bicycle emerging from the side of his family’s guest house. Lemauga approached the male individual and grabbed him by his shirt and dragged him towards his family home.

He stated that his father said that “this is the person that broke into the house”.

Lemauga admitted that he punched the victim with his right hand connecting with the victim’s right eye before dragging him to the ground. Once the victim was on the ground, Lemauga stated that he and Correia took turns in punching and kicking the defendant while he pleaded for help.

Suspect #3 was also asked why the victim reeked of gasoline and he replied that Correia poured gasoline on the victim and tried to burn him alive.

Suspect #1, Lito was also Mirandized and agreed to provide a verbal and written statement.

According to Lito, he was furious that the victim broke into his home a month ago and he had just caught him.

He said that he let his anger get the best of him and he was unable to withhold his anger and unleashed his wrath by participating in the beating of the victim.

Lito was also asked about the victim’s injuries and he stated that he was holding a 2X4 board. He explained that he tried to hit his dog and “apparently missed” striking the victim in the head before he continued to strike him with the lumber on his legs three times and on his arms.

The three suspects were booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next sitting of the District Court.

Tommy Correia is identified as a 29-year-old U.S Citizen, Pio Lito is identified as a 52-year-old U.S National, and Ualesi Lemauga is identified as a 28-year-old U.S National.