LIHUE — A judge ruled a man accused of sexually assaulting a minor for seven years will be allowed to leave the state. Tarey Low appeared before Judge Kathleen Watanabe Monday on 30 counts of sexual assault. Four of the
LIHUE — A judge ruled a man accused of sexually assaulting a minor for seven years will be allowed to leave the state.
Tarey Low appeared before Judge Kathleen Watanabe Monday on 30 counts of sexual assault.
Four of the charges are sexual assault in the third degree and the rest of the counts are sexual assault in the first degree.
Low, 54, was to go to trial Monday. But his attorney, Michael Soong, asked that he be allowed to travel to Nevada to be with family.
“There were two occasions where he traveled outside the state that was approved by the court. There were no incidents or problems with that travel, and he returned as planned,” Soong said. “He has posted $500,000 bond. Mr. Low is not a flight risk, and we ask that the court allow him to leave the state.”
Because he is out on bail, Low is not allowed to leave Kauai, said Justin Kollar, prosecuting attorney,
Jennifer Winn, first deputy prosecuting attorney, objected to the motion.
“The defendant is charged with multiple accounts of sex assault. And from my understanding, he just wants to take a vacation in Las Vegas,”she said.
Kollar added: “We objected to the motion because we do not believe it is appropriate for this defendant to be allowed to travel while he is facing such serious charges.”
But because Low is presumed innocent, there shouldn’t be restriction about why he travels, “unless he’s a flight risk,” Soong said.
Watanabe granted the approval, based on Low’s past good behavior.
“There are things in place, including the $500,000 bond,” she said. “And looking at the history of the court’s prior approvals and Mr. Low’s return, the court is approving the motion,” she said.
Low, who lives in Kapaa, is a former Department of Land and Natural Resources officer. He is said to have allegedly sexually assaulted a female minor from June 29, 2007, through Feb. 14, 2014, according to a 13-page indictment.
He started as a DLNR Enforcement Officer on April 2, 1990. He became the Kauai district manager in November 2001 and retired on June 1, 2009.
Low served with KPD during the 1980s.
Low’s trial is scheduled for April 3.
