Youth coach pleads guilty to sex crimes involving former players in Hawaii, feds say
A longtime youth basketball coach in Hawaii faces up to 144 years in prison in connection with child exploitation and harassment crimes involving 10 former players, prosecutors said.
Dwayne Yuen, 51, of Honolulu, who coached mostly middle school and high school girls, pleaded guilty Dec. 12 to multiple offenses, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii said in a news release.
The counts included sex trafficking a minor victim; coercing and enticing another minor victim into sexual activity; making, receiving and being in possession of child pornography of a third minor victim; and harassing seven other minor victims “through anonymous and obscene communications,” prosecutors said.
All 10 of the victims were former players, according to prosecutors.
Yuen’s attorney didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment on Dec. 16.
A sentencing hearing is set for April 3. Yuen faces at least 15 years in prison, and he could be sentenced to up to 144 years, prosecutors said. He also faces supervised release and restitution, and he must register as a sex offender, according to prosecutors.
In the news release, U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors said the case “represents a concerted, persistent effort” by law enforcement, advocates and the former players to seek justice and healing.
“Cases involving the exploitation of minors by those they trust often span years, including because perpetrators spend time grooming their targets, who then may delay reporting the crimes for various reasons,” Connors said.
Yuen coached basketball for private club teams and also for private and public schools on Oahu, prosecutors said.
Available court documents didn’t provide much detail, but prosecutors said Yuen pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a minor victim in 2005 and 2006; coercing and enticing another minor victim into sexual activity in 2006; and making, receiving and having child pornography of a third minor victim in and around 2020 to 2023.
He also pleaded guilty to harassing seven minor victims “through anonymous and obscene communications in and around 2021 to 2023,” prosecutors said.
He was arrested in February 2023 and has been behind bars ever since as the case works its way through the system, according to prosecutors.
This story was originally published December 16, 2024 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Youth coach pleads guilty to sex crimes involving former players in Hawaii, feds say."
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