Waimea man accused of sexually assaulting teen

A 33-year-old Waimea man is facing numerous counts of sexual assault for alleged crimes committed against a minor girl over a four-month period.

A Kona grand jury last week returned an indictment charging Kau Paio, also known as Kau Pacheco, with 10 counts of first-degree sexual assault.

The offenses are alleged to have taken place between August 2022 and Jan. 1, and the victim — who was born in 2008 and is identified only by her initials in the court document — was less than 14 years old at the time of two of the alleged incidents, and 14 at the time of the other alleged offenses.

According to court documents, the victim’s mother notified police after she recorded a sexual encounter between her boyfriend and daughter while she was away from the residence. The victim and her mother shared a bedroom in her South Kohala home with Paio at the time.

Paio shared a home with the victim’s mother for three months before the abuse began.

On Jan. 1, Paio was arrested and charged with 10 counts of first-degree sexual assault with a minor.

The original charges were brought forth in Kona District Court on Jan. 4. before Judge Joanna Sokolow for three counts of first-degree sexual assault. Sokolow reduced bail to $10,010 pending a preliminary hearing.

However, after the indictment was handed down Jan. 17, the bail amount was upped to $100,000 and Circuit Court Judge Wendy DeWeese maintained that amount. The charges in the indictment included 10 counts of first-degree sexual assault.

Paio appeared Friday before DeWeese and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

DeWeese maintained Paio’s bail and set trial for May 16.

First-degree sexual assault is a Class A felony punishable by 20 years imprisonment upon conviction.