A Hilo grand jury indicted 26 year-old Raynard K. Chong of Puna on charges related to the sexual assault of two minors and for promoting pornography for minors in relation to incidents that occurred between December 2024 and June 2025.
Chong recently made his initial Hilo Circuit Court appearance where his bail was maintained at $815,000.00 and he was ordered to appear for a further proceedings hearing on September 30.
As the Indictment alleges, Chong is charged with Continuous Sexual Assault of a Minor Under the Age of Fourteen Years, two counts of Sexual Assault in the First Degree, Sexual Assault in the Third Degree, and two counts of Promoting Pornography for Minors. The most serious offenses, Continuous Sexual Assault of a Minor Under the Age of Fourteen Years and Sexual Assault in the First Degree, are both class A felony offenses and carry a penalty of a twenty-year prison term. Prosecutors have provided a notice of an intention to seek an extended prison term.
The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was initiated by Officer Ramaiah Ojeda, South Hilo Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Lester.
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