Man indicted in
child-sex video case

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By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

Shane Fernandez began sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend's daughter in August 1998 and continued until his arrest last Saturday, according to an indictment returned yesterday by an Oahu grand jury.

The girl, who is now 10 years old, would have been 7 when the alleged assaults began.

The indictment charges Fernandez, 23, with 12 counts of sexual assault in the first degree, 18 counts of sexual assault in the third degree and three counts of promoting child abuse in the first degree.

Fernandez has been in custody in lieu of $1 million bail since Sunday.

Yesterday, state Circuit Judge Richard Perkins reduced the bail to $250,000.

According to court documents submitted by Honolulu police, on Saturday the girl's mother discovered videotapes of Fernandez having sex with the girl. The three share an apartment on Pupunohe Street in Waipahu. The sex assaults allegedly occurred in the apartment.

The grand jury charged Fernandez with promoting child abuse in connection with the videotapes.

Honolulu police detectives who have seen the tapes describe them as "real bad."

Fernandez is expected to be arraigned on the charges next week.