LIHU’E – Three Kaua’i men are in jail awaiting trial on separate charges of
sexually assaulting under-age girls. A fourth man, charged with burglary,
kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 68-year-old woman, is free on bail.
Steven Inanod Jr., 26, of Hanama’ulu was arrested Monday on 20 counts of
sexual assault in the first degree and 15 counts of sexual assault in the third
degree in connection with the attack in his home of a minor girl. The
incidents allegedly began in 1996 and continued until January of this
year.
Inanod also has been charged with one count of continuous sexual
assault of a minor under the age of 14, and 12 counts of sexual assault in the
third degree for allegedly attacking another minor girl at his home last
year.
The Hanama’ulu man was indicted on criminal charges by a Kaua’i grand
jury on March 20, according to Deputy Prosecutor Shaylene
Iseri-Carvalho.
Inanod was arrested after both victims told a family member
who contacted the Kaua’i police.
Represented at an arraignment in Circuit
Court on Tuesday by Deputy Public Ed Acoba, Inanod pleaded not guilty to both
sets of charges.
He has been confined to the Kaua’i Community Correctional
Center after he failed to post a total of $140,000 in bonds.
His trial has
been scheduled for June 26 in Circuit Court.
A Waimea man, David Somers,
48, was arrested March 23 on five counts of sexual assault in the third degree,
burglary and kidnapping.
The charges stem from an alleged attack on Nov. 11
of a 68-year-old woman in her Makaweli home.
Kaua’i police started an
investigation after the victim reported the assault. She told investigators
that she delayed making a complaint because she feared for her safety,
Iseri-Carvalho said.
Somers was indicted by a Kaua’i grand jury on March
20 and arrested.
Represented by Kaua’i attorney Peter Morimoto, Somers
pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on March 23. He was freed after
posting $60,000 bail.
Romeo C. Garcia, 28, Lihu’e, was arrested March 24 on
five counts of sexual assault in the third degree, two sexual assault counts in
the first degree, five attempted sexual assault counts in the third degree and
three counts of harassment.
The charges arose from the alleged attack of a
minor at a home in Hanama’ulu last year.
Garcia pleaded not guilty during
an arraignment in Circuit Court on Tuesday. He was represented by Acoba at the
hearing. Garcia was indicted by a Kaua’i grand jury on March 20. He was
arrested after the victim told a family member who contacted the Kaua’i
police.
Garcia failed to post $30,000 bail and is being held at KCCC. His
trial is set for June 26 in Circuit Court.
A 62-year-old Kapa’a man,
Pacifico Claro, was arrested March 22 on four counts of sexual assault in the
first degree.
The charges arose from a complaint from a minor girl that
Claro attacked her between 1997 and 1998.
Claro pleaded not guilty during
his arraignment in Circuit Court on Tuesday. Acoba represented Claro at the
hearing. Claro failed to post $50,000 bail and has been confined to KCCC. A
Circuit Court trial has been scheduled on July 3.
