Ex-Maui officer
takes stand to deny
extortion for sex

WAILUKU » A former Valley Isle police officer yesterday denied he tried to have sexual intercourse with a woman after making a traffic stop in West Maui.

Aaron Won, 25, testified he did violate police procedures by first taking the woman to a police substation in Napili, rather than to the regional station in Lahaina.

Won told jurors yesterday that he was alone with the woman, an undocumented worker from Mexico, at the substation. But he said he didn't raise his arms to indicate he wanted her to take off her blouse, as alleged by the prosecution.

He said when he stopped the woman on July 28 for an expired safety sticker, he had difficulty communicating with her because she didn't understand much English. Traffic was heavy on Lower Honoapiilani Road, so he took the woman to the substation, he said.

Won was the last witness in his trial in Maui Circuit Court, where he faces charges of first-degree attempted sexual assault, second-degree attempted sexual assault, kidnapping and second-degree attempted extortion.

Won was suspended without pay after a police investigation began on July 28. He was terminated from his police job three months ago, Maui Police Chief Thomas Phillips confirmed. He declined to elaborate on the reason.

Prosecution and defense attorneys were expected to present their closing arguments at about 10 a.m. today.

The 27-year-old woman, who cleans condominiums and homes for a living, has testified that Won threatened to arrest her for driving without a license and having no insurance if he didn't receive sexual favors from her. She said when she refused, she was arrested.

Won testified that he didn't make any threats, and he did not point to his zipper and mouth, indicating he wanted oral sex.

Won said that while in the substation, he did point to the woman's stomach to ask if she was pregnant, and she said that she wasn't.

He said he made hand gestures, putting his wrist together to indicate she could be arrested if she did not have a driver's license.

On cross-examination by Prosecutor Davelynn Tengan, Won said the explanation of the hand gestures wasn't in his initial statement to police detectives.

"I didn't recall it at that moment," Won said. "It didn't cross my mind. I was under a lot of stress."

Won said he initially made no mention to police detectives about taking the woman to the substation because he knew he had violated police procedures and was afraid he might lose his job.

"I was less than truthful," he said.

Won acknowledged that he didn't call police for a language interpreter and consult with his supervising officer about solving the communications problem with the woman.