COURTESY PHOTO
Joseph Sonogini of the Federal Fire Department Hawaii was indicted on three counts of first-degree sexual assault, nine counts of third-degree assault and one count of continuous sex assault of a minor who is younger than 14 years old.
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A federal firefighter in Hawaii has been indicted by an Oahu grand jury on multiple counts of sexual assault involving a minor.
Joseph Sonognini, 42, of the Federal Fire Department Hawaii was indicted Tuesday on three counts of first-degree sexual assault, nine counts of third-degree assault and one count of continuous sex assault of a minor who is younger than 14 years old.
The assaults involving the girl allegedly occurred on Oahu from September 2014 to May 2016, according to a court document.
A bench warrant was issued Tuesday for his arrest. Sonognini turned himself in to state sheriffs shortly before noon Wednesday. He was released that day after he posted bail of $100,000, according to Toni Schwartz, state Department of Public Safety spokeswoman.
Sonognini is scheduled to be arraigned at Circuit Court before Judge Colette Garibaldi on Monday.
Bill Doughty, deputy director of public affairs of the Navy Region Hawaii, said it is aware of the indictment, but he declined to comment on the case. However, in an email statement, he said,
“Those who fail to meet those standards are held accountable. Sometimes the acts of one individual, even when committed off duty, can tarnish all of us.”
