KAILUA-KONA — A motion to revoke probation was granted Monday for a Ka‘u man indicted by a Kona grand jury for a 2017 sexual assault of a minor while serving an intermittent prison sentence for similar charges dating back to 2011.
Ryan Queja pleaded guilty in February 2011 to first-degree sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, two counts of third-degree sexual assault and third-degree attempted sexual assault. He was sentenced to 24 months incarceration to be served intermittently with a minimum of three months each year and 900 hours of community service.
Queja, a registered sex offender, was still serving his intermittent sentence for the 2011 sexual assault when he allegedly re-offended in 2017. He was released on probation for the earlier assault in December 2018.
During Monday’s hearing before Kona Circuit Judge Robert D.S. Kim, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chase Murray provided evidence that Queja violated the terms and conditions of probation in the 2011 conviction by having contact with a minor. Kim granted the motion and set re-sentencing for Dec. 23.
Kim maintained bail in the 2011 case at $500,000.
Queja was indicted in August on two counts of first-degree sexual assault with a minor who was at least 14 years old but younger than 16 at the time of the alleged assault.
He was also charged with witness tampering for “intentionally engaging in conduct to induce a witness or a person he believed was about to be called as a witness to testify falsely or withhold any testimony,” according to the indictment.
A jury trial was scheduled for Dec. 17 for the latest indictment; however, Kim granted a motion to continue the trial to Feb. 25.
Bail in that case was maintained at $100,000.
If convicted of the latest charges, Queja faces 20 years incarceration with a mandatory minimum sentence of six years and eight months.
Queja remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Email Laura Ruminski at lruminski@westhawaiitoday.com.
