Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 11, 2024, a female individual contacted the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) and reported an alleged assault of her mother by her brother.

The defendant was apprehended while sleeping inside his mother’s house and charged with Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $1,000.

According to the affidavit, on September 11th, at about 8:07 a.m., a female individual called the FPS to report that her brother, Jared Mageo, choked their mother because he did not want his mother to use the machete for the plantation.

Police officers proceeded to the call and upon arrival, they met up with the caller and the victim. The caller briefed the officers and directed them to the victim’s house to locate the suspect.

The victim continuously pointed at her house and stated that the suspect was sleeping inside. The officers asked the victim to identify the suspect sleeping, to which she did.

Police officers then apprehended Mr. Mageo and placed him inside the police unit to be transported to the FPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the FPS, the suspect was Mirandized where he refused to make a statement.

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

The victim arrived at the FPS at a later time and provided her written statement.

According to the victim, she stated that on September 10, 2024, she told the suspect that she was going to use the machete for the plantation. However, the suspect demanded that she not use it. The victim said that she felt as if her son was disrespecting her and it made her upset. Therefore, she scolded him and it escalated to where the suspect choked her.

The victim also stated that she couldn’t contact the police because she  had misplaced her phone.

The defendant is identified as a 21-year-old U.S National.