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Man indicted for sex assault at Kakaako homeless encampment

An Oahu Grand jury Wednesday indicted a 29-year-old homeless man for allegedly sexually assaulting a homeless woman who was sleeping in a neighboring tent at the Kakaako encampment near the Hawaii Children’s Center.

M.J. “Jain” Marew is charged with second-degree sex assault, first-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree burglary. His bail was set at $25,000.

A 21-year-old woman alleges she was sleeping in her tent with her 3-year-old child in her arms near the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center when Marew sexually assaulted her, according to court documents.

Marew also allegedly threatened the victim’s mother with a spear when she tried to help her, the documents say.

According to a police affidavit, the victim said she was asleep in her tent at 11 p.m. Aug. 1 on Ohe Street and was awakened by Marew’s attack.

Her mother, Kionina Kaneso, 58, said she was standing at the entrance to her tent when Marew pointed a three-pronged fishing spear at her.

The victim’s mother said Marew lives in a tent next to the one she and her daughter share on Ohe Street.

“I yelled in fear as he loaded the black rubber (band) in his hand and pointed it at me and my boyfriend,” said Kaneso.

Kaneso said he kept pointing the spear at her and her 37-year-old boyfriend, Rocky Rufes, until Marew’s wife, Selifis Selfina, “came and grabbed him and left the area.”

Another man, who lives in a tent across the street, woke up to the yelling and witnessed Marew threatening the family with a three-pronged spear gun.

Police arrested Marew Thursday afternoon near Kamamalu Neighborhood Park on Queen Street. 

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