Hilo academy puts staffer on leave after sex charges

The Hawaii Youth Challenge Academy in Hilo has placed a staff member, charged with nine counts of sexual assault of a female student, on administrative leave, said a Hawaii National Guard spokesman.

The teenage girl reported Paul Banasihan Jr. took her out of her classroom and sexually assaulted her the afternoon of April 17 in his personal vehicle on the premises of the youth program, police said.

However, Hawaii National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Chuck Anthony said, “This alleged molestation took place just outside the campus grounds.” He said the vehicle was parked closer to a U.S. armory nearby, where some classes are held, than the Youth Challenge campus.

Prosecutors charged the 37-year-old Friday with six counts of second-degree sexual assault and three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault. He was released after posting $66,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear 1:30 p.m. May 15 in South Hilo District Court.

This is the second time such allegations have been made. In October 2013 two female cadets alleged two staff members engaged in sexual misconduct — inappropriate contact — at the Youth Challenge’s Kalaeloa campus, which resulted in termination, Anthony said. That campus opened in 1994.

The Big Island program has never had such a case in its eight-year history, which began at the site of the Kulani Correctional Facility when it shut down in 2009 and later moved to Hilo.

He said an employee theoretically could be terminated for cause if any policies were violated, such as having inappropriate contact with cadets.

“We have processes or procedures in place that should prevent things like that,” Anthony said. The program’s code does not allow members of the cadre to be alone with students, and “cadets are supposed to be with their ‘battle buddies’ to minimize chances of isolating the cadet.”

Anthony said the National Guard, which runs the program, is also investigating and typically does not acknowledge the name of an accused individual or release much of anything as with any state employee, until the investigation is complete.

He identified the suspect as one of its cadre members, who teach military-­style physical fitness training to the students and are state employees. Most of its cadre are either U.S. military veterans and retirees or current Hawaii National Guard members, Anthony said.

Department of Education teachers provide classroom instruction.

Neither police nor the National Guard provided the girl’s age. However, the program educates high school dropouts from 16 to 18 years of age to obtain their high school diplomas.

For 5-1/2 months the students go to classes and live at the barracks. They leave only to go home a couple of times.

The teenage girl “has decided to remain with the program and intends to graduate with the rest of the class,” Anthony said.