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Posted: Monday, August 1st, 2005 5:39 AM HST

Parishoners at Maui church attend first mass after deacon arrest

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ Parishoners at Saint Ann's Church outside Wailuku today attended their first mass without Deacon James ``Ron'' Gonsalves since he was arrested for sexual assault last week. Gonsalves remains in jail on charges he sexually assaulted a boy for three years starting from when the child was 12 years old. He pleaded innocent last week to 62 counts of first- and third-degree sexual assault. Parishioner Agnes Cocke says she wholeheartedly supports Gonsalves. She says he's a wonderful person with a big heart and she couldn't understand how anyone could accuse him of such crimes. Kahele Apo, who worships at the church, says it would be up for the Lord to judge Gonsalves. The indictment alleges Gonsalves sexually abused the boy from June 2002 until last month at church and at Gonsalves' home. Gonsalves is being held on nearly 800 thousand dollars bail. A bail reduction hearing is scheduled for tomorrow morning. His trial is scheduled for Sept. 26. (Copyright 2005 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)