An 18-year-old Anahola man was arrested earlier this month on first-degree sexual assault charges for his involvement in a relationship with an underage minor, according to county officials. Dontez Taylor was arrested on suspicion of the class A felony on
An 18-year-old Anahola man was arrested earlier this month on first-degree sexual assault charges for his involvement in a relationship with an underage minor, according to county officials.
Dontez Taylor was arrested on suspicion of the class A felony on July 3, according to Kaua‘i Police Department records.
Both KPD assistant chief Roy Asher and county prosecutor Craig De Costa confirmed that the charge stems from an alleged violation of section 707-730(b) of the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, which outlaws “sexual penetration with another person who is less than fourteen years old.”
The minor in question is a 13-year-old female who knew Taylor previously, De Costa said yesterday.
De Costa also said that Taylor, who has no prior criminal record, has been released pending further investigation but could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
The state will probably not go through with a traditional preliminary hearing because prosecutors do not want to put the minor through the process, he said.
“At this point it’s being screened for possible grand jury presentation in the near future,” De Costa said, noting that the next available grand jury session is scheduled for Aug. 20.
Taylor was a member of Kapa‘a High School’s varsity basketball team last season, according to a December 2007 recap in The Garden Island.
Kapa‘a High School registrar Elaine Denny said she could not confirm nor deny Taylor’s tenure at the school, and a phone message left for head coach Philip Baclayon was not returned as of press time.
