Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 19, 2024, a woman contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported that her boyfriend allegedly assaulted her at their residence in Nu’uuli.

The defendant was apprehended and charged with the following:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV) — a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one (1) year, a fine of $1,000, or both;

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV) — a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen (15) days, a fine of $300 but not less than $150, or both; and,

Count 3 & 4: Endangering the Welfare of a Child (DV) — a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one (1) year, a fine of $1,000 but not less than $150, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $3,000.

(Samoa News has withheld names of those involved to protect the identities of the minors involved in this case.)

According to the affidavit, on March 19, at about 1:42 pm, a woman contacted the TPS regarding her boyfriend who she claimed assaulted her in their residence in Nu’uuli.

When police arrived at about 1:50 pm, police officers met with the reporter where she briefed officers about what happened. The woman who is also the victim told officers her boyfriend was inside the house. The defendant was immediately apprehended and transported to TPS for further investigation.

The affidavit states that the victim was kicked in her head by the defendant and was suffering pain in her head and shoulder. However, the victim refused to be treated by Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

According to the victim’s verbal and written statement, she woke up her boyfriend for work and he woke up and hit her face with a T-shirt while her 1 year-old baby was looking.

The victim continued that her boyfriend (defendant) then stood up and kicked her head while she was sitting on the bed. This caused pain in her head and shoulder so she contacted the TPS for help.

The victim also stated it was an ongoing issue when she woke up her boyfriend for work.

The defendant was Mirandized and agreed to provide a verbal and written statement.

According to the defendant, he was mad when his girlfriend woke him up. He stated that he heard his girlfriend call his mother and tell her that he’s been a troublemaker ever since they have lived together.

He stated at the time he was really upset and then kicked his girlfriend in the head while she was sitting on the bed while their one-year-old twins were looking.

The defendant was later booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility awaiting the next sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 24-year-old U.S citizen.