May 18, 2006

Hawaii Deacon Pleads Guilty of Sex Abuse

WAILUKU (HI)
Los Angeles Times

By Associated Press
3:16 AM PDT, May 18, 2006

WAILUKU, Hawaii -- A Roman Catholic deacon on Maui pleaded guilty to more than 60 counts of sexually abusing a boy during a three-year period.

James "Ron" Gonsalves, 69, of Wailuku, could receive one year in jail, three years of home confinement and 20 years probation under a plea agreement with prosecutors.

When Circuit Judge Shackley Raffetto asked the deacon why he was pleading guilty, Gonsalves replied, "Because it's true."

Gonsalves pleaded guilty Wednesday to 30 counts of first-degree sexual assault, two counts of attempted first-degree sexual assault and 30 counts of third-degree sexual assault.

Posted by kshaw at May 18, 2006 05:35 AM