A 34-year-old Keaau man is accused of the repeated sexual assault of a minor younger than 14.
Brandon Kalani Manoha Torres pleaded not guilty Monday to continuous sexual assault of a minor under the age of 14, first-degree sexual assault and domestic abuse. Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto ordered him to appear for trial at 8:30 a.m. March 12, 2018.
Torres was indicted Oct. 25 by a Hilo grand jury. At the time, he was awaiting an Oct. 31 preliminary hearing for the same charges. The indictment rendered the hearing unnecessary.
According to the indictment, the alleged sexual offenses took place between Jan. 1, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2015, while the alleged domestic abuse occurred Oct. 8, 2017.
The complaint states Torres “did, in a continuing course of conduct, intentionally, knowingly or recklessly engage in three or more acts of sexual contact or sexual penetration” with the alleged victim. The indictment also alleges Torres “knowingly engaged in sexual penetration” of the minor.
The most severe charges, continuous sexual assault of a minor and first-degree sexual assault, are Class A felonies that carry a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, upon conviction. The domestic abuse charge is a misdemeanor.
The Tribune-Herald doesn’t identify alleged sexual assault victims or minor complainants unless they choose to go public.
According to court records, Torres has only one criminal conviction in Hawaii, for second-degree assault, a Class C felony. An Oahu judge sentenced him in 2007 to five years probation, 30 days in jail and 150 hours of community service. Torres also was ordered to undergo anger management classes.
Torres is free on $102,000 bail.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
