Naalehu Man Gets 40-Year Sentence For Abusing Child

A Ka‘u man was sentenced today in Kona to 40 years in prison after being convicted of two sexual assault charges involving a minor.

David Kaawa IV of Na‘alehu was convicted on April 26 of continuous sexual assault of a minor under the age of 14 and sexual assault in the first degree.

Following a two-week trial, jurors found that for years Kaawa had continually abused a child in his care before the child turned 14 and that he had again assaulted the child after his 14th birthday.

Each charge carries a mandatory sentence of up to 20 years. Third Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra ordered that the two terms be served consecutively.

During the trial, prosecutors said that the abuse occurred during a five-year period, from 2004 to 2009.