Bryson Souza is scheduled to be arraigned in Circuit Court December 14 on charges he molested two girls under the age of 14. Souza, 20, is charged with three counts of third-degree sexual assault and four counts of first-degree sexual
Bryson Souza is scheduled to be arraigned in Circuit Court December 14 on charges he molested two girls under the age of 14.
Souza, 20, is charged with three counts of third-degree sexual assault and four counts of first-degree sexual assault after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing in District Court November 29.
According to the two criminal indictments, between January 1, 2003, through February 22, 2004, Souza allegedly sexually assaulted a girl under 14 three times. The indictment also alleges Souza sexually assaulted another girl under 14 within the same time frame.
- In Thursday’s Circuit Court news:
Despite pleas from the victim, Christine Aquino was sentenced to six months imprisonment for trying to run over her boyfriend with her car.
Aquino, a real estate agent who originally faced six charges including attempted first-degree assault, pleaded guilty to first-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree reckless endangerment, and operating a vehicle under the influence of intoxicants on September 28.
“She wants to make it clear to the court, it was never her intent to hurt anybody,” said Aquino’s lawyer, public defender James Itamura. “Still, her conduct was inexcusable.”
Her boyfriend, Owen Morgan, addressed the court, saying that he never expected Aquino to face charges in the incident.
“I never feared her, I feared the incident,” Morgan said, in a rare statement of support by a victim. “I want to tell you that Christine, without alcohol, is a good friend, a good mother, and a good employee.”
Aquino, following Morgan’s request to Circuit Court Judge Clifford L. Nakea for no additional jail time, expressed her remorse and acknowledged her problem with alcohol.
“My apologies to Owen. I had no intention of hurting him,” Aquino said. “I have all intentions to go to (treatment).”
But Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rosa Flores said that Aquino nearly hurt other bystanders with her actions.
“Two witnesses other than Mr. Morgan saw her driving at a high rate of speed at Mr. Morgan,” said Flores. He “had to duck behind a tree” to get out of her way.
“She burned rubber and jumped a curb,” to get at Morgan, Flores continued. “She almost hit a small boy riding a bicycle when backing up” to take a run at Morgan again.
“She has no remorse for what she has done,” Flores added, and Aquino has a history of drunk-driving.
Judge Nakea agreed that more time in jail was warranted for the crime, sentencing Aquino to six months, with time served.
Aquino was also sentenced to five years probation, with special considerations including substance abuse treatment, drug and alcohol testing, 90 days suspended license, a 14-hour rehabilitation program, and $432 in fees.
- James Alika Hensley, 32, pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to an incident with the mother of her children.
According to the prosecutor’s report, Hensley showed up at the victim’s work, slapped her and pulled her hair. When others intervened, he hit them. He then left in the victim’s car, and, when he was pulled over, got out of the car and resisted arrest.
Facing a total of ten charges, Hensley reached a plea deal, pleading guilty to abuse of family and household members, two counts of harassment, operating a vehicle under the influence of intoxicants, and resisting arrest. He will be sentenced February 3.
Hensley appeared hesitant to plead guilty to a few of the charges, and when Judge Nakea asked him, Hensley said he was not drunk.
But because the plea deal was a package, Hensley reluctantly agreed to go along with the deal.
- Gary Walczak was sentenced to 45 days jail and five years probation and ordered to pay over $17,000 for taking two Rolexes and a ring with him when he moved to New York.
Walczak, 53, who pleaded guilty to second-degree theft in September, was living in New York when he was picked up for the theft of his ex-mother-in-laws’ jewelry.
Flores said that Walczak broke into his mother-in-law’s safe and took the two Rolex watches and a pinkie ring. In place of the watches, Walczak left his own Citizen-brand watch.
She added that while Walczak had planned to return to Kaua‘i, he didn’t after he was confronted by his ex-wife and mother-in-law.
“They had great sentimental value,” Flores said. “He sold the items and pocketed the profits.”
His motion to defer acceptance of his guilty plea which could have eliminated the charge from his record in five years, was denied by Judge Nakea because of the “lack of any attempt by you over the years to make restitution.”
The theft occurred in 1997.
Walczak apologized for his actions in a statement to the court. He also paid $5,000 in restitution yesterday.
“I formally apologize to (the victim),” he said. “What I did was totally wrong, inexcusable.”
Tom Finnegan, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252)
