But the jury could not reach a verdict on six other sex assault charges.

Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall set an Aug, 28 trial date for Jones on the outstanding charges.

Jones, former principal dancer and instructor at the Rosalie Woodson Dance Academy in 'Aiea, was charged with four counts of first-degree sex assault and 14 counts of third-degree sex assault.

He was accused of molesting the girls when they were 12 to 15 years old on separate occasions and at various locations, including the studio.

The girls testified during the three-week trial that Jones molested them, at times first trying to hypnotize them.

Jones did not take the witness stand, but his defense attorneys contended that that girls' testimony was so inconsistent that it could not be believed. Myron Takemoto, Jones' lawyer, argued he was the victim of a "wildfire of hysteria" fueled by one of the five girls who was obsessed with Jones, who had rejected her.

The prosecution contended Jones betrayed the trust the girls placed in their instructor, who violated their innocence.

City Deputy Prosecutor Thalia Murphy argued that when confronted during a meeting at the studio with an allegation that he molested one of the girls, Jones replied he didn't remember, rather than protesting that he was innocent.

The jury deliberated for nearly nine days before returning its verdict.