Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On May 8, 2026, local investigators were assigned to investigate a complaint of alleged sex crimes against a 15-year-old female minor by a relative who resides at the same residence. The victim and the suspect are cousins.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Rape (DV), a class B felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than 15 years and a fine of not less than $150;

Count 2: Deviate Sexual Assault (DV), a class C felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine not t o exceed $5,000 but not less than $150;

Count 3: Sexual Abuse in the First Degree (DV), a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years and a fine not to exceed $5,000 but not less $150;

Count 4: False Imprisonment (DV), class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year and a fine not to exceed $1,000 but not less than $150; and,

Count 5: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed fifteen days and a fine not to exceed $300 but not less than $150.

The defendant was held without bail.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved to protect the identity of the minor, who is the victim in this case.)

According to the court affidavit, the 15-year-old victim’s father accompanied the minor for an interview with the authorities. The victim appeared frightened and uncomfortable speaking in front of her father. Therefore, the father consented for the investigators to speak with the victim while he stepped outside of the interview room.

The victim continued to shake and appeared scared while she recounted the incident. She stated that the incident occurred on May 8, 2026 when she went to the suspect’s room to ask if she could use his laptop. She explained that the suspect had placed the laptop up high on the closet and instructed her to retrieve it. While attempting to get the laptop, the suspect suddenly closed the door behind her.

He then approached her from behind and unexpectedly wrapped his arms around her. The victim continued that the suspect touched her inappropriately and she slapped his hands away and told him to stop. However, the suspect pushed her next to the window and forced her to do things to him while she pleaded with him to stop. The suspect then forced himself on her and raped her.

The victim stated that she “zoned out: and froze because she was scared. She also shared that this was the first time something like this happened to her.

After the sexual assault, she claims she got up and put on her shorts and ran to her other relative’s house behind their home, and then called her cousin (a minor) and told her about what the suspect had done to her. Her cousin then told her uncle who reported the incident to the Department of Public Safety (DPS).

INTERVIEW OF SUSPECT

Following the victim’s interview, the suspect was also interviewed. It began with his being Mirandized, to which the suspect acknowledged that he understood his rights and agreed to make a statement.

According to the affidavit, the suspect initially claimed he only slapped the victim because she wanted to use his laptop. However, when the suspect was admonished to be truthful, by authorities, he told a different story.

The suspect admitted that the victim came to his room to ask him for his laptop. At that point, he pushed her into his room and began touching her inappropriately and  proceeded to force himself onto her. Afterwards, he said that the victim got up, put her pants on, and went to the house in the back.

Based on the interviews, police determined that there was probable cause to believe the suspect had committed rape, deviate sexual assault, sexual abuse, assault, as well as false imprisonment.

He was processed for confinement at the Tafuna Correctional Facility on May 8, 2026, and eventually released. The police requested a warrant to arrest the suspect as part of the affidavit filed on May 15, 2026. It was granted on the same day the affidavit was filed.

The defendant is identified as a 20-year-old U.S National.

The case is now before the court, where prosecutors are expected to pursue the charges outlined in the criminal complaint.

As with all criminal cases, the allegations outlined in court filings remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

[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.]