She said she couldn't have asked for more support from them.

"We all love Daniel," she said, at one point near tears. "It just breaks my heart."

Jones did not say anything at Honolulu District Court, but his lawyer Myron Takemoto told the judge his client was pleading not guilty.

Jones later declined to comment as he was surrounded by his lawyers and about a dozen supporters, including his mother, Lorena Jones, longtime academy secretary. Lorena Jones declined to comment.

A weeping Rosalie Woodson, center, and Lorena Jones, left, were at the courthouse for a hearing for Jones' 20-year-old son, Daniel, who has been charged with sexually assaulting students at Woodson's dance school. Daniel Jones is a former dance instructor at the school. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Daniel Jones, a former principal dancer and instructor at the dance school, is free on $50,000 bail.

Woodson founded the academy on Moanalua Road with about 14 students. She said the academy now has more than 300 students.

"They don't seem to be moving away from the studio," she said. "We're very careful at the studio despite what the media might say."

She said she's willing to have Jones return, but doesn't think that he will.

"The (Jones) family has just been fantastic. They've been with me for years. ... I love this family and I support them."

Daniel Jones, a Punchbowl resident, was arrested Friday and charged Sunday with four counts of first-degree sex assault and 13 counts of third-degree sex assault.

He is accused of sexually assaulting three 14-year-old girls and a 13-year-old girl between Aug. 7 and March 18 at various locations, including the dance academy, a park and their homes.

A first-degree sex assault charge carries a prison term of up to 20 years. Third-degree sex assault is punishable by up to five years.

According to a police affidavit, Daniel Jones knew the girls since they were 4 or 5 years old, when they first started taking academy dance lessons.

Takemoto declined to discuss details of the allegations or his client's defense, saying all the facts in the case have not yet been disclosed.

"It's been a very difficult time," the lawyer said. "We also ask that the public withhold judgment in this case. Obviously, these are allegations at this point, and Mr. Jones is innocent until proven guilty."

Takemoto said his client and family are thankful for the "overwhelming support" they received from friends and people from the dance studio who support him "100 percent."

Daniel Jones no longer is working at the studio because of the allegations, Takemoto said.

"He loved his job, and he cherished his job," Takemoto said. "Unfortunately, he is not there. Basically, it's been a hard time for him."

Takemoto declined to comment on whether the four teenagers are still students at the academy.

City prosecutors have the option of presenting evidence to the O'ahu grand jury to seek an indictment, which would also send the case to trial and spare the teenagers from testifying publicly at the May 9 preliminary hearing.

An indictment would cancel the hearing.