Pastor acquitted of 3 felony charges, guilty of one

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The jury has found a church pastor not guilty of first degree sexual assault, sodomy and incest but convicted him of endangering the welfare of a child.

The defendant, whose identity is not disclosed to protect the victim, was accused by his 13 year old biological daughter of assaulting her sexually in their Tafuna home on the morning of December 6, 2016.

One of the two prosecution witnesses during the three day trial Sgt Misi Leo told the court that the pastor had signed an admission statement in which he confessed to the accusations

The girl, who now lives in San Francisco, did not give evidence but the prosecution was able to provide a signed statement from her which was taken last year when she was in the territory.

Samoa News reported that during questioning, the pastor told the court that nothing happened between him and his daughter.

He testified, “I did not sexually abuse her nor did I do anything to harm her”.

The defense called four witnesses including the pastor and three of his children.