Minimum 20-year prison term urged for sex offender
Peter Vierra assaulted a teen girl since she was 7 years old
A Makaha man who sexually abused his girlfriend's daughter for years, impregnating her at age 12, is a sexual predator who deserves the maximum prison sentence under the law, prosecutors say.
Deputy prosecutor Lori Wada and members of the girl's family asked the Hawaii Paroling Authority yesterday to order convicted rapist Peter Vierra to serve 20 out of 20 years for sexually assaulting the girl since she was 7 and even after he learned she was pregnant.
Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario sentenced Vierra in August to the maximum 20 years, with a mandatory minimum of six years and eight months as a repeat offender. Vierra had pleaded guilty earlier to 12 counts of first-degree sexual assault.
The state is concerned that Vierra's abuse of the girl, now a teenager, "was not isolated, nor was she the first," Wada told the three-member board at Halawa Community Correctional Center.
Vierra also abused three relatives -- two 6-year-olds and a 16-year-old -- she said, citing a confidential pre-sentence report prepared by Adult Client Services. Vierra was never charged in any other sex abuse case.
"The state's position is that this defendant is a child predator to a point where he didn't stop even when she became pregnant," Wada said.
Vierra's comments to Adult Client Services officials show he has no remorse, and it is highly likely that he will not be rehabilitated, Wada said.
Deputy public defender William Bento said Vierra is remorseful and has accepted responsibility. Vierra pleaded guilty to all the charges and needs treatment so he can understand why he did it, Bento said.
"He's sad for what happened and also confused," Bento said. "This is not something that occurs or should occur in a normal way. He's confused about why this occurred."
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Alfred Au, the father of a girl who was sexually abused by Peter Vierra, spoke yesterday at a parole board hearing held to determine the minimum sentence for Vierra.
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Vierra wants to enter the sex offender treatment program at Kulani Correctional Center on the Big Island, Bento said.
In an unusual move, Vierra waived his right to be present at yesterday's hearing, a decision that angered the girl's family.
The girl was present at yesterday's hearing but declined to give a statement. In a letter read by her foster mother, the girl said she feels afraid and uncomfortable around some people because of what Vierra did to her.
"I have lost the feeling to trust anyone because of him," she wrote in asking for the maximum term. "I can't be the child I'm supposed to be because of him."
She questioned whether Vierra would change for the better when he comes out of prison. "How do I know he's not going to do the same thing to some innocent little girl and make her go through the same thing that I went through?"
No one knows how long Vierra would have continued abusing the girl had she not become pregnant and DNA tests revealed he was the father, the girl's foster mother said.
The girl and her baby are living in separate foster homes. The state will not allow them to live together since the girl is not able to care for the baby.
"The victim doesn't understand why she cannot see her baby. The victim and this baby are pure innocents in this case," Wada said.
Paroling Authority Chairman Al Tufono questioned Vierra's absence at yesterday's hearing. "These are the worst types of crimes, and it's unfortunate he's not here because we have some questions for him," he said.
The board is expected to notify Vierra of its decision in two weeks.