Posted on: Monday, April 11, 2005

Dancer charged in sexual assaults

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 20-year-old Punchbowl man who is a principal performer/instructor for the Rosalie Woodson Dance Academy in 'Aiea was charged yesterday by police for allegedly assaulting four teenage girls.

Daniel Jones of an Ohelo Lane address was charged with four counts of first-degree sex assault and 13 counts of third-degree sex assault. He was released at 3:50 p.m. yesterday from the Honolulu Police Department's main-station cellblock after posting $50,000 bail. Jones' initial court appearance is 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at District Court.

Jones is accused of assaulting three 14-year-old girls and a 13-year-old girl between Aug. 7 and March 18, police said.

He was arrested for questioning on Friday at 5:20 p.m. at a relative's Martha Street home in Kapahulu.

On a Hawai'i dance Web site, Jones is described as one of the best male tap dancers on O'ahu and a dance performer since age 3.

Jones works for the same dance studio in 'Aiea that employed Diane Suzuki, a 19-year-old part-time dance instructor who disappeared July 6, 1985.

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.