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By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Freddie Yadao Jr. appears with his attorney, William
Harrison, before Judge Michael Town today at a
hearing on his fitness to proceed to trial.

Child-abuse suspect
found fit for trial

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

A Wahiawa man accused of physically and sexually abusing several children has been found fit to go to trial.

Judge Michael Town today declared Freddie Yadao Jr. mentally competent based on the unanimous findings of three mental health experts appointed by the court.

Yadao has been charged with sexually assaulting two girls ages 9 and 12.

He and his wife were also accused of beating four adopted children with belts, large wooden spoons, a canoe paddle and a metal stick.

Last month, Yadao's wife Sharon, 39, was ordered to serve eight months in jail and five years probation after pleading no contest to charges she slapped her 12-year-old daughter in the face, leaving bruises, bruised a 10-year-old son with a belt and endangered the welfare of a 2-year-old foster son.

The children are now in the custody of Child Protective Services.

Yadao, 45, is scheduled to go to trial July 17.

After his arrest, Yadao was depressed but has resolved the problem with medication, said his attorney, William Harrison.