LIHU‘E — A 69-year-old man was given 18 months jail and a felony probation for two second-degree sexual assaults in 2010. Ernest Johnston, 69, of Lihu‘e, was sentenced to the maximum possible 18-month jail term for a five-year probation in
LIHU‘E — A 69-year-old man was given 18 months jail and a felony probation for two second-degree sexual assaults in 2010.
Ernest Johnston, 69, of Lihu‘e, was sentenced to the maximum possible 18-month jail term for a five-year probation in 5th Circuit Court on Feb. 13. He will also get credit for time served.
Judge Kathleen Watanabe ordered that conditions of probation would include a listing on the state sex offender registry and to pay for all psychosexual therapy treatment until clinically released.
The court ordered that Johnston shall not initiate contact with the victims or reside in the same residence with juveniles without permission of a probation officer and therapist.
Johnston, who has been undergoing cancer treatment, changed his plea to guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual assault on Nov. 14, 2012. The plea deal was delayed for several months while the defendant underwent cancer treatment.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Arin represented the state and Johnston was represented by Defense attorney Gregory Meyers.
Fourth-degree sex-assault charges were dropped in the plea deal. The victims included a 28-year-old woman and two girls, ages 11 and 7.
