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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, September 20, 2009

Kona man indicted on assault, child porn charges


By John Burnett
Hawaii Tribune-Herald

A Hawaii County grand jury indicted a Kailua-Kona man Wednesday on numerous statutory rape and child pornography charges.

Justin Pasamonte, 22, is charged with seven counts of first-degree sex assault, eight counts of third-degree sex assault and three counts of first-degree promotion of child abuse.

A bench warrant was issued for Pasamonte's arrest, setting his bail at $58,000, Deputy Prosecutor Kanani Laubach said Friday.

"I don't think he's been served. I didn't see him on our custody log today," Laubach said. She added that no court date has been set.

Police spokeswoman Chris Loos said in an e-mail that the alleged sex assault occurred in Honokaa. She said Pasamonte was not arrested on the promotion of child abuse offenses, which are related to pornography, and those charges were added after investigation by the county prosecutor's office.

Laubach said there was only one victim, a minor girl.

"At the time it happened, she was under the age of 14, and then it continued until she was 14," Laubach said.

According to the indictment, the alleged offenses occurred between May 16, 2006, and May 17, 2007. Laubach would not say whether the alleged pornography was published, sold or otherwise distributed. She said no other adults were charged in the case.

A search of court records showed no prior convictions for Pasamonte in Hawaii.

First-degree sex assault and first-degree promotion of child abuse are Class A felonies punishable by up to 20 years per offense.