Hawaii psychologist gets 20 years in prison for molesting teen

A Kona Circuit Court judge sentenced a 72-year-old Kailua-Kona clinical psychologist to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a boy aged 14 to 15 in 2019.

Reuben Lelah, who was initially charged June 27 with two counts of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of third-degree sexual assault, pleaded guilty March 15 to two counts of second-degree sexual assault charge.

Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya sentenced him Friday to 10 years in prison for each of the crimes, to be sentenced consecutively, and gave credit for the few days served to Lelah, who was arrested in June and released July 5 on bail of $40,000.

Lelah admitted to having sexually assaulted on two occasions between June 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 a person identified by the initials AS, born in 2005, which makes her 18 or 19 years old today.

If Lelah had been convicted of two counts of first-degree sexual assault, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years, he could have received a 40-year sentence.

The victim's family filed a civil complaint June 27 in Third Circuit Court against the Loving Service Foundation, a Hawaii nonprofit corporation, and Lelah.

According to the complaint, Lelah is a licensed clinical psychologist who provides certain counseling and psychological services through the Loving Service Foundation.

The foundation's principal place of business is Lelah's residence in Kailua-Kona, and he serves as its president and treasurer, the complaint states.

The victim was receiving psychological treatment and counseling services from Lelah through the foundation, the complaint states.