Puna man indicted on 19 charges including sexual assault and firearms

Sep 09, 2026

A Big Island man is facing a long list of felony charges after a domestic incident involving a gun, and prosecutors are treating the case as serious enough to set bail near half a million dollars.

  • A Hilo grand jury indicted 32-year-old Joseph Kaketi Jr. of Puna on 19 charges.
  • The charges include sexual assault, abuse of a family member, assault, and several gun offenses.
  • Police say the incidents happened over about a week in late August.
  • Officers searching his home found five guns, including an AR-15 style rifle.
  • Bail was set at $472,000, and he is due back in court in November.

Outlook: The case moves to court in November, where the gun charges alone could keep bail high.

← Latest · Archive