Maui deacon
released on
$100,000 bail

James Gonsalves is ordered
to stay away from St. Ann Church

WAILUKU » The Catholic deacon accused of sexually assaulting a male minor on Maui was released yesterday after posting $100,000 bail.

James Gonsalves: The St. Ann Church deacon has pleaded not guilty

James Ronald Gonsalves, 68, of Wailuku will be required to stay within his home in Wailuku, except when making authorized visits to his attorney's office, under a court order issued by Maui Circuit Judge Shackley Raffetto.

Raffetto reduced Gonsalves' bail yesterday to $100,000 from $790,000.

Gonsalves, 68, was arrested Wednesday after a Maui grand jury indicted him on 62 charges, including 30 counts of first-degree sexual assault involving a male juvenile.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

At the request of Deputy Prosecutor Robert Rivera, Raffetto also ordered Gonsalves to remain away from minors and a mile from St. Ann Church in Waihee, where he served as the administrator.

Gonsalves family and scores of church members who supported him attended the bail hearing yesterday in Maui Circuit Court in Wailuku.

During the hearing, Rivera, who argued to maintain the $790,000 bail, said Gonsalves was a flight risk and a danger to the community because of the severity of the charges against him and his financial resources.

Rivera said the latest alleged sexual attack occurred at St. Ann Church on June 14.

Defense attorney Philip Lowenthal said the reduction of bail to $100,000 was consistent with the Maui Intake Service Center's recommendation, and that Gonsalves was not a flight risk or danger to the community.

Lowenthal said Gonsalves had the support of his family and church members, as evidenced by their attendance in the courtroom.

Lowenthal said Gonsalves has cooperated with authorities since learning he was under investigation by Maui police.

Attorneys plan to set his trial date at a hearing before Raffetto on Thursday.

Gonsalves, a retired Hawaiian Airlines employee, began working as a deacon for the Catholic Diocese of Hawaii in 1987 and became a full-time paid administrator assigned to St. Ann Church about six years ago.

Police have charged that the attacks upon the boy occurred when he was 13 to 15 years of age, from June 2003 to June 2005.