Two men in their 60’s appeared before the District Court yesterday morning in separate cases alleging sexual misconduct and abuse with minors.

Taxi driver Siulepa Auelua of Nu’uuli, aged 67, is being held on bail of $35,000 and is charged in connection with a sexual incident alleged to have occurred last week Thursday.

The police affidavit says that while police were out looking for two juveniles who escaped from the Juvenile Detention Center last week, police came across Auelua and a 16-year old female in a shack in the bushes across from the Juvenile Detention Center in Nu’uuli.

Police then arrested Auelua and charged him with felony charges of Statutory Rape (having sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 years of age), Sexual Abuse First Degree, Sodomy, Deviate Sexual Assault and a misdemeanor charge of Endangering Welfare of a Child. The affidavit says Auelua had sexual intercourse with the 16-year old girl.

Another case filed before the District Court was the government’s case against a 64-year old man, alleging that he engaged in sexual contacts with a six-year old girl, who is a relative. The defendant is in custody on bail of $100,000.

The defendant is facing felony charges of Child Molestation, Rape, Sexual Abuse First Degree, Deviate Sexual Assault and a misdemeanor count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. It is alleged the sexual incidents started in August of last year, with the latest incident on January 6, 2012.

Judge John Ward ordered both men not to try to contact the victims, nor their family members.

A preliminary examination hearing to determine whether the government has sufficient evidence for this matter to go forward is set for this Friday morning.

Both men were remanded back into the custody of police awaiting bail, and are being represented by the Public Defender’s office; while prosecuting the case is Deputy Attorney General Mitzie Jessop-Folau.