Bryson Souza, 20, of Koloa, faces 10 years in jail after pleading guilty Tuesday to two counts of second-degree sexual assault. Souza, who stared at the floor and was barely audible when answering Circuit Court Judge Clifford L. Nakea’s questions,
Bryson Souza, 20, of Koloa, faces 10 years in jail after pleading guilty Tuesday to two counts of second-degree sexual assault.
Souza, who stared at the floor and was barely audible when answering Circuit Court Judge Clifford L. Nakea’s questions, nearly broke down when pleading guilty to the class-B felony charges, which were reduced as the result of a plea deal.
The plea deal included prosecutors asking for a maximum of 10 years total for both charges.
The sexual assault occurred against a 3-year-old girl. Charges of inappropriately touching another girl under 5 years old were dropped.
Souza originally faced the possibility of life in prison for four counts of first-degree sexual assault. Third-degree sexual-assault charges, which involved another girl under 14, were dropped as the result of the plea bargain.
According to deputy county prosecutor Rosa Flores, Souza sexually assaulted a 3-year-old girl at her home in Kalaheo on more than one occasion from Jan. 1, 2003, to Feb. 22, 2004.
According to court documents, the other case, which was dropped, charged Souza with inappropriately touching another girl under 14 during the same period.
Souza will be sentenced Feb. 15.
Tom Finnegan, staff writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or mailto:tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.
