Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 5, 2026, police initiated an investigation into a matter involving inappropriate behavior of an adult with a minor after a report was received from the Department of Public Safety’s Patrol Division.

A suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1, 4, 7, & 10: Rape, a class B felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five (5) years and not more than fifteen (15) years;

Count 2, 5, 8, & 11: Deviate Sexual Assault, a class C felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to seven (7) years, a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both; and,

Count 3, 6, 9 & 12: Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to five (5) years, a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.

The defendant is held without bail.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved to protect the identity of the victim who is a minor.)

According to the court affidavit, a 15-year-old female was brought to the station as a suspect in domestic violence, but information obtained during preliminary questioning led officers to uncover allegations of inappropriate behavior by an adult male over a period of several months.

Later that evening, detectives conducted a formal interview with the minor (outside of her mother’s presence) at the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) after receiving permission from the parent. During the interview, the minor provided a detailed account of her interactions with the adult male:

a. In the summer of 2025, the two started communicating on Facebook; and in December 2025, they began a sexual relationship.

b. In December, there were at least two incidents of inappropriate sexual behavior at the suspect’s house in Nuuuli.

c. In early January 2026, further inappropriate sexual behavior between the two happened in the suspect’s niece’s bedroom.

d. In March 2026, the suspect had sexual relations with her twice, on different days. The first was when the suspect picked her up with her younger brother from their home and took them to his sister’s house, where he took her into a room to have sexual relations. The second time was when he took her to his home and the same inappropriate behavior occurred.

During the course of the investigation, officers learned that the adult male would often arrange to meet the minor and transport her to different locations. These meetings reportedly occurred during both daytime and nighttime hours, sometimes involving pick-ups from areas near her home or other agreed-upon locations.

In the early morning hours of March 6, detectives conducted an interview with the adult male, suspect at the TPS. Prior to questioning, he was advised of his constitutional rights, which he acknowledged and waived.

During the interview, the adult male admitted to communicating with the minor over several months and confirmed that they met in person toward the end of 2025. He further acknowledged that he had picked her up on multiple occasions and transported her to private residences.

Investigators reported that the adult male said they began talking in June 2025 and actually met in person sometime in December, before Christmas.

He admitted to engaging in repeated encounters with the minor during the months of January, February, and early March 2026. He also confirmed details regarding the locations where the meetings occurred, which included not only residences in the Nuuuli area, but also once in a rental vehicle his sister had rented.

In one of the encounters that occurred in March, the suspect noted that the victim spent the night at his house because she was having problems at home.

Police noted that the adult male’s statement corroborated significant portions of the minor’s account, particularly in relation to the timeline, frequency of contact, and the locations involved.

Authorities also determined that many of the meetings were arranged through social media communication, highlighting the role of online platforms in facilitating the interactions.

The matter has since been forwarded for prosecution, and the case is expected to proceed through the court system as authorities continue to review the evidence and determine the appropriate charges.

The investigation remains ongoing.

The defendant is identified as a 36-year-old citizen of Samoa.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on March 6, 2026.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court.]