Possible plea deal in sex assault case

A 65-year-old driver for The Arc of Hilo alleged to have sexually assaulted a 32-year-old mentally and physically handicapped woman inside a service van owned by the nonprofit organization last week appears to be on the verge of accepting a plea deal offered by the prosecution.

Louis Sardis appeared Thursday for a preliminary hearing before Hilo District Judge Robert Crudele. In the crowded courtroom filled with family and supporters of the alleged victim on one side and Sardis’ family on the other, Sardis’ attorney, Deputy Public Defender Jeff Ng, dropped the bombshell.

“Your Honor, Mr. Sardis is prepared to waive his right to a preliminary hearing in exchange for the state’s proposed plea offer,” Ng told the judge. Ng said terms of the proposal include that Sardis plead to two counts of first-degree sexual assault for the June 30 incident in Orchidland Estates subdivision, which was witnessed by two individuals, according to court documents.

“The plea offer calls for … concurrent open terms of incarceration,” Ng added.

Sardis, who is charged with three counts of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of third-degree sexual assault, answered a series of questions from Crudele mostly with “yes, Your Honor” and “no, Your Honor.” He told the judge he completed a year of college and has never been treated for mental illness.

Crudele ordered Sardis to appear at 8 a.m. July 19 for arraignment and plea before Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura.

First-degree sexual assault is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, while third-degree sexual assault is a Class C felony that carries a possible five-year prison term upon conviction.

Sardis is in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $49,000 bail.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.