Puna man indicted on 19 charges including sexual assault and gun offenses

Sep 09, 2026

A Big Island man is facing a long list of felony charges after a grand jury indictment, a serious case for prosecutors and the alleged victims.

  • A Hilo grand jury indicted 32-year-old Joseph Kennedy Junior on 19 separate offenses.
  • The charges include sexual assault, abuse of a family member, and firearms violations.
  • Police say they seized five weapons tied to him, including an assault rifle.
  • The indictment came alongside a separate case involving a 35-year-old man critically injured last weekend, with a hearing set for the next day.

Outlook: Kennedy heads to court on the indictment, and the firearms counts could add significant time if he is convicted.

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