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A jury deliberated for less than two hours Thursday before convicting Roberto Omar Morales Andrade, 49, of Lahaina on 16 counts of sexual assault involving a child.
According to a news release, the verdict followed a two-week trial before Second Circuit Judge Kirsten M. Hamman. The jury found Morales Andrade guilty of eight counts of first-degree sexual assault and eight counts of third-degree sexual assault.
Evidence presented at trial showed Morales Andrade used his position of trust and access to isolate and repeatedly abuse the child beginning in 2014, when the child was 9 years old, and continuing for nearly four years.
A family member eventually discovered the abuse through a text message the child sent to a peer, leading to a report to law enforcement and the charges in the case.
Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin praised the victim’s courage in coming forward and testifying at trial. He said the verdict brings justice to the victim and the victim’s family and reflects the department’s continuing commitment to seeking justice for survivors of child sexual assault.
Following the verdict, Morales Andrade was remanded into custody on $500,000 bail pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Oct. 12.
Morales Andrade faces up to 20 years in prison on each first-degree sexual assault count and up to five years on each third-degree sexual assault count.
The case was prosecuted by deputy prosecuting attorney Frank Loyd Jr., assisted by law clerk Janelle Bednar.