61 year-old Dason Derego of Hamakua was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual assault  stemming from incidents that occurred between September and December 2016.

On March 3, 2025, Derego appeared in Hilo Circuit Court where he entered “Guilty” pleas to five charges of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree.

On July 1, Derego returned to Hilo Circuit Court for his sentencing hearing where after listening to arguments, the Court sentenced him to a ten-year prison term for each offense, to be served concurrently. The Court then ordered that Derego, who had been out of custody having posted $120,000 bail, be taken into custody forthwith to begin serving his sentence.

Sexual Assault in the Second Degree is a class B felony offense and carries a penalty of either a ten-year prison term or five years probation and up to eighteen months in jail.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ha‘aheo Kaho‘ohalahala.

HPD Photo