Man accused of sexually assaulting minor

A Hilo grand jury has indicted a 24-year-old Pahoa man for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor.

The indictment returned April 25 accuses James V. Johns Jr. with nine counts of first-degree sexual assault for “knowingly engaging in sexual penetration” with a girl born in May 1994. The offenses allegedly took place between July 19, 2006 and April 30, 2010.

A bench warrant was issued for Johns’ arrest, setting bail at $90,000.

First-degree sexual assault is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.