Photographer charged in sex assault

Prosecutors charged a 31-year-old photographer yesterday with two counts of third-degree sexual assault for allegedly fondling two children at Lehua Elementary School on Sept. 22.

    HPD Nabs Local School Photographer

 

 

A man who photographs kids for their school portraits is in police custody after being accused of fondling two elementary school children.

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Gerard Fernandez Mueden, 31, of Salt Lake was released yesterday after posting $20,000 bail. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance this morning in District Court.

Jim Fulton, a spokesman for the Honolulu Prosecutor's Office, said Mueden worked for the House of Photography and was taking school pictures on a stage in the cafeteria of Lehua Elementary School when the alleged incidents occurred.

Police said a boy and a girl, both 10, reported that Mueden touched them inappropriately while at school at about 10:45 a.m. Sept. 22.

Mueden turned himself in at the main police station Sunday.

Officials investigate boating death

Officials are investigating the death of a 17-year-old diver who was struck by a boat in Maunalua Bay on Sunday.

Keahihoku K.P. Lum of Honolulu died at a hospital after he was struck by a boat while diving at the bay shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday. He was a senior at Farrington High School.

The Medical Examiner's Office determined that he died from traumatic injuries to his chest and stomach from a boat propeller. The manner of death was classified as an accident.

The Coast Guard is assisting the state Department of Land and Natural Resources in its investigation. No details are being released at this time, said department spokeswoman Deborah Ward.

Police find drugs on man at airport

A 51-year-old Kailua-Kona man has been charged with methamphetamine trafficking, promoting a detrimental drug, two counts of promoting a dangerous drug and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was charged Friday, and his bail was set at $100,000.

James McCown was arrested Thursday at the Keahole Airport after Big Island police received a tip that he was smuggling crystal methamphetamine on a flight from California, Big Island police said.

Police searched McCown's bags and found about seven ounces of crystal meth, almost four grams of marijuana and nearly two grams of powdered cocaine. In addition, $1,600 in cash was seized, police said.