Kona man indicted on nearly 30 charges for ‘significant acts’ of sexual assault, domestic violence

A 28-year-old Kona man faces nearly 30 charges — including four Class A felonies that, if convicted, each could put him behind bars for a maximum of 2 decades — after being indicted by a Kona grand jury Aug. 11 in connection with what prosecutors call “significant acts” of sexual assault and domestic violence incidents between January and July while he was in a relationship with the victim.

Hawai‘i County prosecutor’s office reports that Weston Duarte was indicted for:

Class A felonies (total of 4)

• 3 counts of first-degree sexual assault.
• Kidnapping.

Class B felonies (total of 2)

• Second-degree promoting a dangerous drug.
• Obstruction of justice.

Class C felonies (total of 7)

• 3 counts of abuse of a family or household member.
• Third-degree promoting a dangerous drug.
• Intimidating a witness.
• First-degree terroristic threatening.
• First-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.

Misdemeanors (total of 9)

• 4 counts of abuse of a family or household member.
• Attempted abuse of a family or household member.
• Second-degree terroristic threatening.
• First-degree resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle.
• Second-degree reckless endangering.
• Second-degree negligent injury.

Petty misdemeanors (total of 4)

• Operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.
• Abuse of a family or household member.
• Reckless driving of a vehicle.
• Driving without a license.

Duarte remains in custody at Hālawa Correctional Facility, a state prison, in Honolulu on the basis of a pending parole violation; a $350,000 bench warrant for his arrest also was issued upon his indictment.

A Class A felony carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A Class B felony has a maximum penalty of 10 years behind bars, while a Class C felony is punishable by a maximum of 5 years in prison.

Each misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of 1 year in jail, and a petty misdemeanor has a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail.

The charges stem from a July 10 incident during which the victim sought police assistance and Duarte fled from police in her car, subsequently crashing it — with the victim in the backseat — about an hour later and 6 miles away from where everything started.

He was flown to O‘ahu for medical care and later arrested at the hospital on a warrant issued by the Hawai‘i Paroling Authority for additional offenses committed while he was out on parole.

Further investigation revealed Duarte engaged in significant acts of domestic violence and sexual assault during the course of his relationship with the victim.

The felony investigation was led by Office of the Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Investigator Henry Ivy. Hawai‘i Police Department Kona Patrol and detectives with the department’s Area II Juvenile Aid Section and Criminal Investigations Division also assisted.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Hawai‘i County Prosecutor Annaliese Wolf.