LIHU’E — The trial of a former Kaua’i resident charged with four counts of sexual assault against a young girl many years ago was pushed back to July. Eugene Saulibio’s jury trial that was scheduled for Feb. 27 was reset
LIHU’E — The trial of a former Kaua’i resident charged with four counts of sexual assault against a young girl many years ago was pushed back to July.
Eugene Saulibio’s jury trial that was scheduled for Feb. 27 was reset for July 10. Saulibio’s Lihu’e attorney, Michael Soong, asked for more time to locate and interview witnesses on Kaua’i and on the Mainland.
Circuit Court Judge Kathleen N.A. Watanabe granted Soong’s request earlier this week.
In court papers, Soong wrote that the witnesses are crucial to his client’s case.
Soong and Honolulu attorney Victor J. Bakke are representing Saulibio, who now lives in ‘Aiea on O’ahu.
Saulibio was indicted by members of the Kaua’i grand jury in December on four counts of first-degree sexual assault.
The alleged offenses took place in the summer of 1996, when the alleged accuser was about 14 and a guest in Saulibio’s Kalaheo house.
Saulibio, 44, was a well-known, youth-basketball coach on Kaua’i.
Earlier, Saulibio was on the receiving end of repeated sexual assaults at the hand of the Rev. Joseph Bukoski, a Kaua’i native who gave Saulibio drugs and alcohol and abused him over a period of time in Saulibio’s youth on O’ahu.
Bukoski admitted to the crimes, and is no longer allowed to serve Mass or be around youngsters. He was also ordered to pay restitution to Saulibio. Honolulu Catholic diocese lead-ers also were ordered to pay an unspecified amount of money to Saulibio to settle the case.
