A Hilo man indicted on sexual assault charges last month pleaded not guilty in 3rd Circuit Court on Tuesday, Jan. 4.
A Hilo Grand Jury indicted 42-year-old Michael Kawaha on two counts of second-degree sexual assault, a class B felony, in connection to an incident that occurred in Panaewa in 2018. The offense carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
During his initial appearance, 3rd Circuit Court Judge Peter Kubota granted Kawaha’s request to reduce bail from $50,000 to $10,000, over the prosecutorʻs objections.
A jury trial for Kawaha has been scheduled for May 16.
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