A 32-year-old Keaau man pleaded not guilty Thursday to numerous sex offenses, including sexual assault of a minor. ADVERTISING A 32-year-old Keaau man pleaded not guilty Thursday to numerous sex offenses, including sexual assault of a minor. Hilo Circuit Judge
A 32-year-old Keaau man pleaded not guilty Thursday to numerous sex offenses, including sexual assault of a minor.
Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura ordered Vajra Ramdas Hogye-Lederer to appear for trial at 9 a.m. Feb. 10 before Kona Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra.
In a 20-count indictment returned by a Kona grand jury Aug. 25, Hogye-Lederer was charged with seven counts of first-degree sex assault, five counts second-degree of electronic enticement of a child, six counts of promoting pornography for minors, and two counts of first-degree promotion of minor-produced sexual images.
He was arrested Wednesday in Hawaiian Paradise Park and appeared at his arraignment in custody.
According to police, the victim was a juvenile girl. According to the indictment, she was between the ages of 14-16 at the time of the alleged offenses, between Oct. 8-29, 2012. Allegations include sexual penetration, use of a computer or other electronic means to arrange meetings, providing pornography to the minor and having the girl use either a cellphone or other device capable of electronic transmission to take nude photographs.
A bench warrant issued after the indictment set Hogye-Lederer’s bail at $900,000.
Deputy Public Defender Jeff Ng, who represented Hogye-Lederer at the court proceeding, asked the judge to free Hogye-Lederer on supervised release or to reduce his bail.
“According to a pre-trial bail report, Mr. Hogye-Lederer is currently on supervised release on two counts of sexual assault in the second degree,” Ng said, then corrected himself, saying Hogye-Lederer had been freed on bail with conditions since April 2013.
Ng told the judge Hogye-Lederer complied with his bail terms and has made all his court dates. He also noted the alleged offenses in the indictment occurred before the charges he posted bail for.
“Mr. Hogye-Lederer also reported he’s been working as a fisherman and he has a place to stay,” he said.
Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Lee objected to supervised release or any bail reduction.
“As Mr. Ng pointed out, the defendant was on bail with conditions on two counts of sexual assault in the second degree,” Lee said. “… The defendant has, according to the Kona (Prosecutor’s) office, has another sex assault case pending, involving another alleged complainant.”
Nakamura maintained Hogye-Lederer’s bail.
After the hearing, Lee said Hogye-Lederer has not been charged in the third case. He’s scheduled for trial Aug. 25 before Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara on the second-degree sex assault charges. A co-defendant in that case, Eagle Adam Tobin, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in February to 18 months in jail and five years probation.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
