20 May 2017

American Samoa cop back in court over sex charges

8:30 am on 20 May 2017

An American Samoa policeman is expected back in court to plead to three sex offences.

Public Safety officer, Okesene Alo, has been charged with rape, first degree sexual abuse and deviate sexual assault.

Alo is one of four police assigned to the Juvenile Detention Center who were all charged last month with misconduct at centre.

In its case, the government alleges that Alo had sexual contact with two females inmates.

Alo was initially charged with 35 counts including drug charges and 12 sex offences, which were later dismissed, but the government then refiled the same sex related charges.

After preliminary hearing earlier this week the court found a case to answer on three felony sex charges with other offences dropped.