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Trial begins
for Maui officer
A woman testifies that
he threatened arrest
as leverage for sex
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"I said, 'No, no. I cannot.' I got real scared to think there was just me and him in the room," the woman said through a Spanish-language interpreter.
Maui Police patrolman Aaron Won, 25, faced the first day of his jury trial in Maui Circuit Court yesterday on charges of first-degree attempted sexual assault, second-degree attempted sexual assault, kidnapping and second-degree attempted extortion. The trial resumes today at 10 a.m.
In the opening statements, Prosecutor Davelynn Tengan and defense attorney Philip Lowenthal said there was no one else present when the alleged threats were made by Won on the morning of July 28.
But Lowenthal said, "There's a lot of motives going on in this case," noting that the woman, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, could receive special immigrant treatment for her testimony against Won.
Won is expected to testify on his own behalf.
The woman said she came to the United States about three years ago because there was little work in her home, near Guadalajara in central Mexico. She has been sending money home to her mother, who is taking care of her 7-year-old daughter.
She denied that she had been promised any favors in return for her testimony against Won.
The woman, who earns a living cleaning homes, said she drove north toward Kahana at about 8:45 a.m. to pick up some maintenance equipment and drop off her 2-year-old daughter at a baby sitter.
She said minutes after dropping off her daughter, she was stopped along Lower Honoapiilani Road by Won, who informed her she had an expired safety sticker.
Won was wearing his police uniform and driving a marked Maui Police vehicle while he patrolled the Kahana area, according to the prosecution.
After Won found that she had no license or insurance, he instructed her to follow him, the woman said.
She said she thought she was under arrest and going to the police station in Lahaina, but Won led her northward where the road widened and motioned for her to park her car on the side of the road.
Won placed her in the back seat of his car, then drove north to a police substation in Napili, she said.
The woman said Won locked the door and motioned for her to take off her blouse. She asked, "Why?"
The woman said Won motioned that he wanted to have sex with her, and when she refused, he threatened to arrest her. She said she did not understand much English but did know what he meant when he repeatedly used the word "arrest."
The woman said Won indicated that he wanted oral sex.
She said she refused again and told him to arrest her.
Won then put handcuffs on her and escorted her to his police vehicle, she said.
The woman said Won stopped on a side street and asked her if she was sure about refusing to have sex with him.
She told him she was sure, and Won drove her back to her car. The woman said she was booked at the station, made bail and later called a Spanish-speaking police officer who is well known in the Hispanic community, to discuss the incident.
The officer, Oscar Martin Del Campo, contacted a police supervisor. An investigation led to Won's arrest.
Won, who posted $100,000 bail, has not been on duty since the allegations were raised on July 28.
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