KALAHEO — The Kaua‘i Police Department arrested a 65-year-old Kalaheo man suspected of sexually assaulting a minor.
Victor Aguilar was arrested on Thursday at his Kalaheo home with one count of sexual assault in the second degree and for promoting child abuse in the third degree.
Police located Aguilar, who is a former state Department of Education employee and a former Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps instructor. He was booked at KPD headquarters and released pending investigation.
The DOE said Aguilar was initially employed at Waimea High School in 1995 as an athletics coach, and helped build the JROTC program on Kaua‘i until his separation from the department on Feb. 11, 2021. Aguilar also served in the Army for 17 years as a recruiter for active Army and reserve.
On Feb. 16, Waimea High School Principal Mahina Anguay sent out a letter to parents and guardians regarding the incident: “It is with a heavy heart that we send this letter home to inform you that a faculty member has been placed on leave for alleged misconduct involving a Waimea High School student,” Anguay said in the letter.
The letter continues: “The employee subsequently resigned and is no longer a part of the WHS faculty. These allegations are crushing to our school given that we work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of all of our students,” she wrote.
”We will not tolerate any behavior that places any student or faculty member in harm’s way. We urge everyone to avoid participating in rumor-spreading or speculation to protect the integrity of these investigations and out of respect for the victim involved.”
Aguilar served in many community events, including Kukui Grove Center’s Christmas parades and Lights on Rice Street Christmas parades over the years, was involved with the veterans’ community, and participated in yearly Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day events.
The investigation remains ongoing, and KPD in a press release said it has reason to believe there could be more victims involved in separate incidents.
The school had no further comment when contacted Friday.
Anyone with information on the case or cases is urged to contact KPD Investigative Services Bureau Assistant Chief Bryson Ponce at 241-1681. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i at 246-8300 or visit cskauai.org.
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Stephanie Shinno, education, business, and community reporter can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
