A 45-year-old Hilo man accused of sexually assaulting his estranged long-time girlfriend on Christmas Eve is free on $65,000 bail, according to court records.
Hilo District Judge David Harada-Stone on Monday denied a defense motion, objected to by prosecutors, to free Ellswood Noeau on supervised release — a form of cashless bail.
Harada-Stone ordered Noeau to return to court Thursday for a preliminary hearing.
Noeau is charged with second-degree sexual assault, attempted second-degree sexual assault, second-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and fourth-degree theft.
The most serious charges, second-degree sexual assault and attempted second-degree sexual assault are Class B felonies that carry a potential 10-year prison term, upon conviction.
Noeau is accused of a vehicle break-in, according to police, as well as taking the woman’s cellphone, according to prosecutors.
According to police, the charges stem from a domestic incident Sunday at a Hinano Street residence.
The victim, a 36-year-old woman, reportedly came to the Hilo Police Station on Sunday and told officers she had just been sexually assaulted by Noeau, whom she said had also offered her drugs. The woman, according to police, stated she and Noeau had a previous long-term relationship.
While the woman was reporting the incident, Noeau arrived at the Hilo Police station where he was subsequently arrested.
The Tribune-Herald has a policy of not identifying the victims of sexual assault unless they choose to go public.
Both police and County Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen identified the victim in press releases as a former girlfriend of Noeau’s.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.