Prosecutors indicted 71 year-old Reuben Lelah of Kailua-Kona for charges related to the sexual assault of a minor which occurred between June and December 2019.

Lelah was arrested by the Kona Sheriff’s Division on June 29 and made his initial appearance in Kona Circuit Court on Friday June 30. His bail was set at $40,000.00 and a jury trial was scheduled for November 21, 2023.

As the Indictment alleges, Lelah is charged with two counts of Sexual Assault in the First Degree (knowingly engage in sexual penetration, specifically fellatio, with a minor who was at least fourteen years old but less than sixteen years old) and two counts of Sexual Assault in the Third Degree (knowingly engage in sexual contact with a minor who was at least fourteen years old but less than sixteen years old). Sexual Assault in the First Degree is a class A felony offense which carries a penalty of a twenty-year prison term. Sexual Assault in the Third Degree is a class C felony offense which is punishable by either a five-year prison term or five years probation and up to twelve months in jail.

The investigation was led by Detective Scott Dewey, Area II Juvenile Aid Section, and assisted by Sergeant Brandon Mansur, Area II Community Policing Section, formerly of the Area II Juvenile Aid Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Annaliese Wolf.

The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney