Former youth basketball coach Dwayne Yuen has admitted to a series of child sex crimes, with charges including sex trafficking, coercing a minor into sexual activity, and the production and possession of child pornography. Yuen, aged 51, entered his guilty plea yesterday, laying bare the extent of his misconduct against ten victims who were under his care as a coach. According to Hawaii News Now, Yuen's predatory actions spanned nearly two decades, targeting middle and high school girls he coached.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has outlined the gravity of Yuen's crimes, stating that the offenses could result in a prison sentence of up to 144 years. The former coach's actions included making harassing phone calls and sending threatening messages, as detailed by KHON2. The harassment persisted from 2021 to 2023, affecting multiple victims.
Federal prosecutors have emphasized that all ten victims were girls Yuen coached, whether in school teams or private club settings. The FBI apprehended Yuen in February 2023, and since then he has been detained at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu. His sentencing is scheduled for April 3, 2025, and Yuen could potentially face a life of supervised release post-incarceration, along with mandatory restitution and sex offender registration.
MMA champion Ilima-Lei MacFarlane, one of Yuen's former students and victims, has been outspoken about the justice being served. In a statement obtained by Hawaii News Now, she said, "I told them it was the best Christmas present ever." MacFarlane found out about her old coach's guilty plea through agents on the case and spoke candidly about the emotional significance of seeing her abuser detained and brought to justice. She will possibly have the opportunity to address Yuen directly during his sentencing in April and has expressed a strong message she wishes to convey to him.
Punahou School, where Yuen was previously employed, has settled several civil lawsuits related to his misconduct, including one with MacFarlane. U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors told Hawaii News Now that this ongoing effort by law enforcement, advocates, and victims aims to provide healing and closure through the criminal justice system.
