44 year-old Paul Banashihan, Jr. of Puna was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual assault offenses involving a minor at the Hawai‘i Youth Challenge Academy where Banashihan was employed as a cadre in 2018.

Banashihan was also sentenced to a five-year prison term for Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree (possess any amount of methamphetamine) offense in relation to an unrelated May 19, 2020 incident.

In June 2023, a Hilo jury found Banashihan guilty of nine offenses including three counts of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree, two counts of Attempted Sexual Assault in the Second Degree, and four counts of Sexual Assault in the Fourth Degree. Sexual Assault in the Second Degree and Attempted Sexual Assault in the Second Degree are both class B felony offenses and carry a penalty of either a ten-year prison term or five years probation and up to eighteen months in jail. Sexual Assault in the Fourth Degree is a misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail. Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree is a class C felony offense and carries a maximum penalty of a five-year prison term.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Ha‘aheo Kaho‘ohalahala and Kirsten Selvig.

HPD Photo