Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On April 27, 2025, at approximately 3:32p.m, the Leone Police Substation received a call from a woman who claimed to have been assaulted by her boyfriend.

The suspect fled the scene but was later charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300 but not less than $150, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both; and

Count 3: Property Damage in the Third Degree (DV), a class B misdemeanor punishable for up to six months, a fine not to exceed $500, or both.

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

(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, on Apr. 27th, a 17-year-old victim contacted the LPS from her 28-year-old boyfriend’s house. The victim appeared to be crying and gasping for air as she explained that she was allegedly assaulted by her boyfriend (suspect). The victim further explained that the suspect broke her phone and that she was using the suspect’s phone to call for help. The victim gave instructions of where she was located.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene they met up with the victim who was waiting in front of the suspect’s house. The officers approached the victim’s mother who identified the suspect and gave the officers a description of what he was wearing. Authorities proceeded towards the suspect’s residence to locate him, but were unable to locate him.

The suspect’s sister informed the authorities that the suspect had fled when he saw the police units arriving in the area.

The victim was transported to the LPS for further investigation and for medical treatment.

The investigation later revealed that the victim was 17 years old and police contacted Social Services to be present during the minor’s interview.

The victim was interviewed in the presence of her mother and she provided a verbal and written statement. According to the victim, the incident started when she didn’t come outside of the room in the morning. When she came outside later to help the suspect’s mother and chat with the suspect’s sister, the suspect came to her and yelled profanities at her. Furthermore, the suspect slapped her twice in the face.

At this point, she stood up and went back into their room and the suspect followed her and assaulted her again.

Afterwards. The suspect threw her clothes outside and when she went to collect her stuff, the suspect came outside and choked her. He then broke her phone and when she told the suspect she was going to call the police, he stated “Go ahead, I don’t care!”

The victim also informed the authorities that this is the sixth time that the suspect has assaulted her but this is the first time she contacted the police. It was revealed that the victim was living with the suspect at the time of the incident at the suspect’s family home.

The defendant is identified as a 28-year-old U.S National.