WAILUKU, Maui — A Catholic deacon accused of sexually assaulting a boy over a three-year period walked out of jail yesterday after a Maui judge reduced his bail significantly.

Judge Shackley Raffetto cut the bail of James "Ron" Gonsalves from $790,000 to $100,000, despite an argument from the prosecutor that Gonsalves represents both a flight risk and a danger to the community.

Raffetto also ordered the 68-year-old Gonsalves to be confined within his 'Iao Valley home, except when visiting his attorney's office, and to refrain from contacting any minors.

In his argument for maintaining the higher bail amount, deputy prosecutor Robert Rivera also said that the latest incident for which the man was charged occurred at the church June 14.

But defense attorney Philip Lowenthal said that Gonsalves has cooperated with authorities from the start. When he became aware of the allegations, Gonsalves contacted police, took leave from his job and cooperated in a court-approved bail study even before the formal charges were brought, Lowenthal said.

But Rivera said Gonsalves has an "enormous (bank) account" that he could use to flee.

A Maui grand jury indicted Gonsalves on 30 counts of first-degree sexual assault, a felony punishable by a 20-year prison term; and 32 counts of third-degree sexual assault, which carries a maximum five-year term.

Maui police said the incidents allegedly occurred between June 2002 and June 2005, beginning when the youth was 12 years old. Some of the assaults were reported to have occurred at St. Ann Church in Waihe'e, in the Wailuku district.

Members of St. Ann packed the courtroom for yesterday's 8:30 a.m. bail hearing.

Gonsalves was freed from Maui Community Correctional Center at about 11 a.m. after posting bail, officials said.

Gonsalves, a lifelong Maui resident who has no prior criminal record, is single, has never married and lives with his mother and sister. He joined the church six years ago when he retired from Hawaiian Airlines, where he spent 29 years as an agent.