Big Isle sailor is
arrested in California

He is charged with sexually
molesting a 13-year-old girl

Associated Press

HILO >> California officials arrested and charged a 19-year-old sailor from the Big Island for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old girl, and officials believe there could be more victims in Hawaii.

Stanley Shigeishi Jr. of the USS Nimitz was charged with 12 counts of sexual conduct with the girl, "some forcible, some not," San Diego Deputy District Attorney Jodi Breton said Tuesday.

"I have every reason to believe that there are additional victims on your island," Breton said. "I know who some are, and there's others that I don't know."

The alleged crimes with the California girl happened Jan. 29, Breton said.

Stanley Shigeishi Sr. told the Hawaii-Tribune Herald that his son, a graduate of Hilo High School, is innocent.

Breton said a preliminary hearing was not held as of Tuesday because "his (Shigeishi's) attorney is hoping to get him a psychiatric evaluation."

If convicted, Shigeishi could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison.

But Breton said she would ask for the maximum if the case went to trial.

"If he made the little girl testify, we'd ask for the most that he could get," she said.