Hāmākua man sentenced for sexual assault of teen girl nearly 9 years ago

A 61-year-old Hāmākua man was sentenced earlier this week to 10 years in prison in connection with the sexual assault of a then-14-year-old girl between September and December 2016.

Office of the Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney reports that Dason DeRego pleaded guilty March 3 in Hilo Circuit Court to five charges of second-degree sexual assault.

DeRego appeared Tuesday (July 1) in Hilo Circuit Court for sentencing.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on each offense, to be served concurrently. DeRego, who was out on $120,000 bail, was immediately taken into custody.

Online court records show DeRego was indicted Feb. 21, 2019, on a total of 20 counts — 10 counts each of first-degree sexual assault and third-degree sexual assault. He accepted a plea deal, which led to his guilty plea in March.

Second-degree sexual assault is a Class B felony punishable by either 10 years in prison or 5 years probation and up to 18 months in jail.

The felony investigation was led by Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Juvenile Aid Section Detective Richard Itliong and the case was prosecuted by Deputy Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Ha‘aheo Kaho‘ohalahala.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, go to a safe place and call a trusted friend or relative for support.

You can call 9-1-1 to report the sexual assault to the police, and the YWCA Hawai‘i Island 24-hour Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline at 808-935-0677 has advocates available 7 days a week to provide support and advocacy.