Pahoa Man Charged in Sexual Assault Case

One felony and three misdemeanors offenses have been charged to a 42-year-old man who was arrested Sunday morning in connection to a sexual assault investigation.

The Hawai’i Police Department says officers responded to a location in Pahoa at about 4:10 a.m. after receiving a call reporting the assault of a female minor.

At the scene, police arrested Wendell Reed Santiago of Pahoa. He was taken to the Hilo police cellblock as Area I Juvenile Aid Section detectives continued to investigate the incident.

Santiago was charged Monday morning with first-degree sexual assault, a class A felony, two misdemeanor charges of promoting intoxicating liquor to a person under the age of 21, and one misdemeanor charge of abuse of a family household member.

Bail for Santiago was set at $54,000. He remained at the cellblock pending his initial court appearance Wednesday.

Anyone who has information regarding the case is asked to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Vernon Ferreira at 961-2279 or e-mail at Vernon.Ferreira@hawaiicounty.gov.

Individuals who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.