A Kona grand jury on Monday handed down four separate indictments for first-degree sexual assault of a minor.
A Kona grand jury on Monday handed down four separate indictments for first-degree sexual assault of a minor.
Kasey Akiona is charged with first-degree sexual assault on a minor who was at least 14 years old but less than 16 years old for an alleged April 2019 incident in South Kohala. The indictment states Akiona was not less than five years older than the minor.
Joshua Masuda-Mercado was indicted on first-degree sexual assault on a minor less than 14 years old in July 2019. He is also charged with continuous sexual assault of a minor younger than 14 between November 2014 and August 2018.
Francisco Javier Lozano Palacios was indicted on a charge of first-degree sexual assault of a minor younger than 14 years old for alleged incidents taking place on or between May 2019 and May of this year. He is also charged with third-degree sexual assault.
Jesse Kimo Costner was charged with first-degree sexual assault of a minor younger than 14. The indictment states the alleged incident took place on or between November and December 2018.
First-degree sexual assault and continuous sexual assault of a minor younger than 14 are Class A felonies that carry a potential 20-year term of imprisonment upon conviction. Third-degree sexual assault is a Class C felony and carries a sentence of up to five years.
Email Laura Ruminski at lruminski@westhawaiitoday.com.
