Officer accused of sex assault

The Maui County Police Department placed a police sergeant on administrative leave pending an investigation of sexual assault allegations by a 15-year-old girl.

Paul Bailey, an 18-year veteran of the department, was arrested at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday for investigation of third-degree sexual assault. He was released pending investigation.

Ex-official begins prison term

Former state boating official Wesley Choi began serving a 10-year prison sentence Wednesday morning for embezzling nearly $125,000 from the state.

The Hawaii Paroling Authority will set the minimum term Choi must serve before he is eligible for parole. Choi could have received probation and an 18-month prison term had he repaid the money by Wednesday’s sentencing, under terms of his plea agreement with the state attorney general.

Choi, 39, stole the state money by submitting false bids for nonexistent facility repair jobs and awarding himself the contracts, said Vince Kanemoto, deputy state attorney general.