A 25-year-old Hilo man is accused of sexually assaulting an underage girl last year.
A Hilo grand jury on Wednesday returned a six-count indictment of Daniel Harris-Rivera, charging him with continuous sexual assault of a minor under the age of 14, three counts of first-degree sexual assault, and two counts of third-degree sexual assault.
The alleged offenses took place between Feb. 1-21, 2021, according to the indictment. Harris-Rivera allegedly engaged in three or more acts of sexual penetration or sexual contact with the minor, who is identified only by her initials, during that timeframe.
Continuous sexual assault of a minor under the age of 14 and first-degree sexual assault are Class A felonies punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment upon conviction. Third-degree sexual assault is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years behind bars.
The indictment, however, alleges Harris-Rivera is subject to extended terms of imprisonment “for the protection of the public” and because he could be sentenced to two or more felonies. An extended term of imprisonment for a Class A felony could be life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.
As of Friday morning, Harris-Rivera had not been arrested pursuant to the indictment.
According to court records, Harris-Rivera was convicted of misdemeanor assault in 2016. Records indicate he also is involved in an active felony drug case from 2016 in which a $50,000 bench warrant for his arrest was issued in 2019 by the Big Island Drug Court.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.