August 09, 2005

Alleged sex acts occurred monthly

HAWAII
Honolulu Advertiser

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

WAILUKU, Maui — A recently unsealed criminal indictment against a Roman Catholic deacon states that the 68-year-old man engaged in monthly sex acts with a boy during a two-year period, and that alleged assaults took place over a three-year period.

James "Ron" Gonsalves, who is on leave as deacon and administrator at St. Ann Church in Waihe'e, has been charged with 30 counts of first-degree sexual assault and 30 counts of third-degree sexual assault.

Gonsalves also is accused of two counts of attempted first-degree sexual assault.

Gonsalves has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He remains free on $100,000 bail while awaiting a Nov. 14 trial.

The indictment, unsealed Friday, alleges that Gonsalves had "sexual contact" with the boy at least once a month between June 2002, when the boy was 12, and May 2004.

Posted by kshaw at August 9, 2005 09:06 AM