CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Frederick Rames, who pleaded no contest under a plea agreement, was convicted yesterday of molesting six boys. He now faces up to five years in prison and must register as a sex offender.
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Coach guilty of molestations
A Wahiawa man faces five years' prison and must register as a sex offender
A Wahiawa soccer coach convicted yesterday of molesting six boys faces five years in prison and must register as a sex offender.
Frederick Rames, 66, was found guilty of eight counts of third-degree sexual assault, a Class C felony. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 5.
Rames, who pleaded no contest under a plea agreement and waived his right to a jury trial, showed no emotion when Circuit Judge Michael Wilson pronounced him guilty.
Under a plea agreement, charges against Rames that included two counts of first-degree sexual assault were reduced to third-degree sexual assault, and three counts of tampering with a witness were dropped.
Rames was indicted in October on nine counts of third-degree sexual assault, three counts of tampering with a witness and two counts of first-degree sexual assault.
The alleged victims include six boys, all under 14. One of the boys, who was 12 at the time, was one of his foster children. The foster child has since reunited with his biological family on Oahu, said Jim Fulton, city prosecutor's spokesman.
Attorney William Harrison, who represented Rames, said Rames agreed to the plea agreement.
"It's been a long and difficult road for him," Harrison said after the hearing. "His family has been put through a lot, and he didn't want to put his family through any more."
He also did not want the children to be traumatized by questions and testimony at trial, which says a lot of Rames, he said.
Rames' family members who were seated in the courtroom gallery during the hearing declined comment.
Harrison said there are still members of the community who support him.
"He was an active member of the community for many, many years. He did a lot of good. He was a good foster parent."
Deputy Prosecutor Douglas Chin said the victims' families supported the plea agreement.
"But these boys were incredibly courageous. We absolutely believe that justice has been done here," Chin said after the hearing.
"Frederick Rames is going to be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life, and everybody on Oahu is going to know that what happened here was the truth," Chin said. "When these boys stepped forward, they were telling the truth."