PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — American Samoa would become the last U.S. jurisdiction to outlaw stalking under a measure pending in the territorial House of Representatives.

Assistant Attorney General Lisa Teesch-Maguire said Tuesday that her office supports the measure because there are currently no laws to protect the victims of domestic violence cases that could be characterized as stalking.
Rep. Larry Sanitoa says the territory’s law enforcement officials lack the laws to prosecute incidents that are similar to stalking. He says that makes it hard to protect possible victims.
The measure would make stalking a misdemeanor, punishable by six months to two years in prisons.
Located in the South Pacific, American Samoa is about 2,300 miles south of Hawaii.