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Two arrested after a man was allegedly assaulted behind a local store

American Samoa District Court building
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Police arrested two men last month on the allegation they assaulted a third man. The two men, Peau Livisitone and Mauigoa Lalomilo made their initial appearances in court last month.

Livisitone and Lalomilo are each charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of marijuana, both unclassified felonies, punishable by a term of imprisonment from 5-10 years, a fine of up to $20,000, or both; along with 2nd-degree assault and felonious restraint, both class D felonies, punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. They are also each charged with 3rd-degree assault, a class A misdemeanor.

The court established bonds for each of the two defendants at $15,000, with the usual caveats, including not to make any direct or indirect contact with the victim nor any of the government’s witnesses.

The two defendants are scheduled to appear in court next week for their preliminary hearing.

THE AFFIDAVIT

The government claims that on Apr. 29, 2022, a young woman contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) regarding a possible assault case involving two men who allegedly assaulted another man in Nu’uuli, and requested officers’ assistance.

The victim is a 38-year-old who works at a local construction company, who was at a store shopping. A DPS, Vice and Narcotics detective was assigned as lead investigator in this matter, with assistance from three other police detectives.

According to the affidavit, when detectives arrived at the scene, EMS personnel were already there assisting the victim, who was taken to the LBJ Hospital for further treatment. The victim had sustained facial and head injuries.

Several witnesses of the the alleged incident were interviewed by police, and it was one of these witnesses that said they saw Lalomilo and Livisitone assaulting the victim and knew their names.

According to a third witness, Livisitone and Lalomilo were having a drinking session behind the store. They started their drinking session around 5p.m on that afternoon. Around 7p.m the victim, who was at the store to shop, joined the men, who assaulted him, after he was approached by Lalomilo for money to buy more beer. It was after he joined the men that according to the third witness, the assault started.

Four days after the alleged incident, investigators interviewed the victim on his sick-bed at the LBJ Hospital.

The victim confirmed what the 3rd witness had told police, and that it was while he was speaking with Livisitone that he was surprised when Lalomilo punched him in the face. It was also at that time when someone grabbed the collar of his T-shirt from behind and then punched him from behind.

The victim stated that was when Livisitone restrained his hands while he was lying on the ground and Lalomilo punched him. The victim saw Lalomilo holding a hard piece of wood in his right hand.

Livisitone then got the hard wood from Lalomilo and allegedly swung at the victim hitting the left side of his face. The victim also stated that Livisitone also used the hard wood to strangle him with and he was in and out of consciousness during the assault but eventually was able to move. Around that time he said, he heard people coming to help him.

Two days later, Lalomilo and Livisitone were both apprehended and taken into TPS for further investigation. Before they were transported to the TPS, a body search was conducted on both of them for weapons, where allegedly illegal drugs were found on both men. 

When questioned by investigators, Lalomilo admitted that he and his friend, Livisitone, assaulted the victim after the victim told them that they're making too much noise and they should leave the area before he called police. Lalomilo said he punched the victim and his friend Livistione struck the victim’s head with a piece of hard wood.

Livisitone admitted to investigators that he assisted Lalomilo in assaulting the victim. Furthermore, Livisitone also admitted that he used a piece of hard wood to strangle the victim while he was lying on the ground.

When questioned about the drugs, both defendants told investigators they got drugs from a friend. They refused to reveal their friend’s identity.