Former basketball coach pleads guilty to child sex crimes against 10 victims

Posted by author December 13, 2024 Basketball

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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A former youth basketball coach has pleaded guilty to 12 offenses related to child sex crimes that could put him behind bars for the rest of his life.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Dwayne Yuen, 51, pleaded guilty Thursday to committing sex crimes against three minor victims as follows:

Sex trafficking one victim in 2005 and 2006.
Coercing and enticing another victim to engage in sexual activity in 2006.
Producing, receiving, and possessing child pornography of a third victim in and around 2020 to 2023.

He also pleaded guilty to harassing seven victims through anonymous and obscene communications in and around 2021 to 2023.

The FBI arrested Yuen in February 2023, and he has been detained at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu since his arrest.

Federal prosecutors say all 10 victims were middle or high school girls that he coached at various schools or on private club teams.

“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,” said U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors. “This case represents a concerted, persistent effort by law enforcement, advocates, and the targets themselves to seek justice and healing in the criminal system.”

Yuen is scheduled to be sentenced on April 3, 2025.

He faces a mandatory 15 years in prison and up to 144 years in prison for all 12 offenses.

Yuen also faces a term of supervised release of up to life, mandatory restitution, and must register as a sex offender.

Punahou School, where Yuen worked, also settled numerous civil lawsuits this past summer, including one with MMA champion Ilima-Lei MacFarlane.