TO MOLESTING STUDENTS
At District Court, Daniel Jones, center, listened yesterday to attorney Myron Takemoto answer reporters' questions. Behind Jones were friends and family members. At left was attorney Ken Shimozono.
Family and friends
show support at
a court hearing
An Aiea dance studio teacher
remains silent on charges of
assault involving four girls
More than a dozen family members, friends and supporters accompanied accused molester Daniel E. Jones to his first court appearance yesterday to show their support.
Among them was 80-year-old Rosalie Woodson, who founded the Rosalie Woodson Dance Academy, where Jones worked until recently.
"We all love Daniel. It just breaks my heart to hear of these allegations," she said.
Jones, a dance instructor now on leave, entered not-guilty pleas yesterday in Honolulu District Court to charges of sexually assaulting four of his female students, ages 12 to 14. He is accused of four counts of first-degree sexual assault and 13 counts of third-degree sexual assault.
Dancing and teaching have been a big part of Jones' life, said Myron Takemoto, his attorney.
"He loved his job, cherished his job," but he respects the wishes of others that he stay away from the studio at this time, Takemoto said.
Daniel Jones, center, listened to Rosalie Woodson, founder of the Aiea dance studio where he was an instructor, talk yesterday about the effect of his arrest. Attorney Myron Takemoto, right, said Jones "cherished his job."
Takemoto said this has been a difficult time for Jones and his family and asked the public not to rush to judgment until all the facts are in. People from all over the mainland, his family, friends and the studio support him 100 percent, Takemoto said.
Woodson said she opened her studio with 14 students in 1957 when Aiea was still a sugar mill town. Today, more than 300 students take classes at the same Moanalua Road location.
District Judge James Dannenberg scheduled a preliminary hearing for May 9.
Takemoto, until recently a Honolulu deputy prosecutor who has prosecuted sexual assault cases, said it is highly likely that prosecutors will take the case before a grand jury before then. It is rare for prosecutors to subject alleged minor victims of sexual assaults to cross-examination by the defense or to have them testify at a preliminary hearing, he said.
Woodson said she has known Jones, 20, and his family since he was 4, and is supportive of him and his family.
After all this is over, she said she would welcome Jones back to the studio "any time."
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