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Man accused of sexually assaulting 13-year-old during anime convention

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COURTESY HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT

Adrian Peralta.

Police looking for a suspect accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl were able to arrest the 20-year-old fast food employee when he showed up to watch the girl’s middle school play.

They arrested Adrian Peralta April 27 at an Ewa Beach intermediate school.

An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment Thursday charging Peralta with two counts of first-degree sexual assault and three counts of third-degree sexual assault.

Circuit Judge Shirley Kawamura confirmed Peralta’s bail at $20,000. Peralta posted the bail April 29, two days after his arrest.

Deputy Prosecutor Kristen Yamamoto told Kawamura that Peralta met the girl in February at this year’s Comic Con. The 2019 Amazing Comic Con Aloha was at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center Feb. 22-24. She said Peralta and the girl stayed in touch by communicating through social media until March, when the girl’s father learned that Peralta had been sending the girl links to pornographic websites.

Peralta met the girl again last month at an anime event. The 2019 Kawaii Kon was at the convention center April 5-7.

Yamamoto said Peralta invited the girl to his room at the Ala Moana Hotel April 6 to play video games while he changed costumes. She said Peralta sexually assaulted the girl despite the girl telling him she wanted to leave.

The girl reported the sexual assault April 10. Police were not able to immediately arrest Peralta because the girl only knew his first name.

Yamamoto told Kawamura that at the time of his arrest, Peralta was employed at a fast food restaurant in Kapolei.