Kona judge grants bail reduction for man charged with sexual assault

A Honolulu man indicted on sexual assault charges of a minor on the Big Island has posted bail.

Forty-six-year-old Shawn Michael Henriques was indicted by a Kona grand jury on July 23 for first-degree sexual assault, a class A felony. The charge stems from an incident occurring in Hawai‘i County in April 2021 where he is accused of sexually assaulting a minor less than 14 years old.

On Friday, Henriques made his initial appearance in Kona Circuit Court where Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya granted the defense’s request to reduce his bail from $250,000 to $100,000, over the prosecution’s objections.

The judge also ordered a bail study to be conducted.

According to court minutes Henriques posted bail following the hearing. A jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 19.

If convicted, Henriques is facing a maximum penalty of a 20-year prison term.