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Men accused of sex abuse of minor girls plead guilty

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 42-year-old father of 6 accused of the sexual abuse of a 16-year-old girl told the court in a plea agreement that he is guilty.

Iosua Kilifi, who is out on a $10,000 surety bond appeared in court last week for a Change of Plea hearing. He was initially charged with two counts of first degree sexual abuse, one count of deviate sexual assault, and felonious restraint - all felonies - and a class A misdemeanor: endangering the welfare of a child.

Under a plea agreement with the government, accepted by the court, Kilifi pled guilty to one count of first degree sexual abuse. He admits that on May 21, 2019 he touched the breast and the private pates of a 16-year-old girl in a sexual manner.

According to terms of the plea agreement, the incident was reported to police by the victim’s mother who told investigators that Kilifi, who is their neighbor and her brother’s friend, comes to their home to watch TV with her brother almost every weekend.

On the night of the incident, the victim and her younger siblings were at home alone, as her mother and uncle were at a meeting. At around 9:30p.m., Kilifi went to the victim’s home to watch TV, and found the victim asleep on the floor in the living room alone.

That’s when Kilifi touched the girl’s breast and private parts in a sexual manner. The victim awoke after she felt somebody touching her body and found Kilifi standing beside her. She screamed and told Kilifi to get out. Kilifi, who was intoxicated, turned and left the house peacefully.

The victim told her mom and uncle everything when they got home, and police were notified. Kilifi will be sentenced Feb, 14, 2020.

UILI TUNUPOPO

A 28-year-old man accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl has pled guilty.

Uili Tunupopo who is out on a $10,000 surety bond, appeared in High Court last week for a Change of Plea hearing.

Tunupopo was initially charged with two counts of first degree sexual abuse, both class D felonies; along with endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor. But under a plea agreement with the government, accepted by the High Court, Tunupopo pled guilty to one count of first degree sexual abuse.

Tunupopo admits that on Feb. 22, 2019, he touched the breast of a 15-year-old girl to arouse his sexual desires.

According to the plea agreement, the victim’s father reported the incident to authorities after he discovered that his daughter was sexually assaulted by the defendant, who is their neighbor and also a member of their church.

The victim told police that Tunupopo entered her room at night and sexually assaulted her by touching her chest, thigh, and private parts. One week later, there was a second encounter. Tunupopo, who was very drunk, entered the victim’s room at night, and did the same thing to her while she was sleeping.

The victim told her father what happened and authorities were notified immediately.

When questioned by police, the victim, in the presence of her parents, said Tunupopo gave her money to buy clothes and food, and he also bought her a laptop and a new cell phone so they could communicate.

The government is recommending that the court sentence Tunupopo to probation, with no jail term. Sentencing is Feb. 21st.