Posted on: Monday, September 27, 2004

Parents sue over assault by guard

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

The parents of a teenage girl who was sexually assaulted while incarcerated at the Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility in Kailua have sued the state and a former guard, alleging HYCF officials were negligent and did not do enough to prevent the assaults.

The lawsuit was filed Friday in Circuit Court by attorney Sue Herbich, on behalf of the girl's parents. Named as defendants were the state, Department of Human Services, Office of Youth Services, HYCF, corrections officials Melvin Ando and Glenn Yoshimoto and former guard Li'a "Oli" Olione.

The family is seeking an undetermined amount in damages.

According to the lawsuit, the unnamed girl was incarcerated at HYCF from May 9, 2003, to June 20, 2003. On June 14 and 15, it alleges, she was kidnapped, falsely imprisoned, threatened and sexually assaulted by Olione.

Olione was sentenced in July to 15 years in prison for sexual assault and terroristic threatening of the girl while he was a guard at the facility.

The lawsuit accuses state officials of failing to protect the girl and prevent the assaults. Her parents also claim the state was negligent because it failed to remove their daughter from the facility after she reported the attacks to HYCF personnel.

As a result of the attacks, the lawsuit alleges, the girl has suffered "serious injuries" and "irreparable physical and mental harm."

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8025.