HAWAII
The Maui News
LILA FUJIMOTO, Staff Writer
WAILUKU – With dozens of parishioners of St. Ann Church in Waihee filling a courtroom gallery Monday, a judge reduced bail to $100,000 for Deacon Ron Gonsalves, who is charged with multiple counts of sexually abusing a boy.
“He has tremendous support in the community, as evidenced by many members of the congregation of St. Ann’s here today who love him and care for him,” said defense attorney Philip Lowenthal, who argued for bail to be reduced from $790,000.
He said Gonsalves’ family was prepared to post $100,000 in cash bail.
Following the court hearing, Gonsalves, 68, was released on bail from the Maui Community Correctional Center. He had been jailed since his arrest Wednesday, when he turned himself in at the Wailuku Police Station.
The Wailuku resident has pleaded not guilty to 62 counts of sexual assault of the boy over a three-year period ending in June. The boy was 12 when the alleged sexual assaults began, occurring at Gonsalves’ home and at the church, police said.