A 19-year-old man from Honolulu involved in two criminal cases is reportedly moving toward plea agreements in both, as shown in recent court filings. Johnathan Ten faces charges in a 2023 case alleging sexual assault and kidnapping involving a child, and in a separate 2024 case, he is charged with second-degree attempted murder in connection with an August drive-by shooting that injured a 16-year-old on a city bus. Judges have scheduled a brief court session at the end of December while defense attorneys and prosecutors work on potential agreements.
Deputy Public Defender Edward Aquino informed the court that Ten and prosecutors are in the final stages of plea negotiations and requested additional time to finalize the details. The filing led Judge Catherine Remigio to schedule a Dec. 30 hearing, which could serve as both a final trial call and a change-of-plea date if agreements are reached. The cases remain set for trial on Jan. 5 if negotiations do not succeed.
Shooting on TheBus: what police allege
Honolulu police report that the bus incident took place on the night of Aug. 9, 2024, when two males on a blue scooter approached a city bus in Kalihi, and one fired a single shot through the rear doors, striking a 16-year-old passenger in the upper-right chest.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from multiple locations, including video from the bus, to trace the scooter and identify potential suspects. The Honolulu Police Department bulletin states that detectives later identified a person of interest and continue to seek the public’s assistance in locating the scooter operator who allegedly aided the shooter’s escape.
Background on the earlier sexual-assault indictment
Months before the bus shooting, Ten was indicted in May 2023 in a separate case. Prosecutors allege the case involves first-degree sexual assault, two counts of third-degree sexual assault, kidnapping, and promotion of child abuse related to the alleged production or distribution of child pornography, according to Hawaii News Now.
Court records cited by reporters indicate the alleged victim in the 2023 case was 12 years old. The records also show that Ten was out on bond in the sex case when the city bus shooting occurred. Prosecutors are treating the incidents as two separate criminal matters, and it remains unclear whether investigators have identified any connection between them beyond the shared defendant.
Court schedule and what comes next
Judge Remigio has scheduled a Dec. 30 hearing for a further trial call and a potential change-of-plea in both cases, with trials remaining set for Jan. 5 if no agreements are reached. The defense has requested a brief continuance to finalize negotiations, though details on the types of plea arrangements under consideration have not been disclosed. If agreements are reached, they would be presented to the judge at the Dec. 30 hearing for review and possible approval in open court.
Legal stakes
Second-degree attempted murder in Hawaii is classified as a life-felony offense with the possibility of parole, which can result in decades of imprisonment if a defendant is convicted. In addition, the sexual-assault and child-abuse charges in the earlier case are separate felonies that could lead to additional prison time or extended periods of supervision if Ten is found guilty.
Hawaii News Now has reported that managing two major prosecutions at the same time can complicate plea negotiations, as attorneys assess how outcomes in one case may affect sentencing and legal strategy in the other.
What to watch
The Dec. 30 hearing will determine whether the two cases are resolved through plea agreements or proceed to separate trials in January. Honolulu police are continuing to request tips related to the Kalihi shooting and say the public can submit videos, photos, or information through CrimeStoppers and the P3 smartphone app.
So far, the prosecutor’s office and the Office of the Public Defender have provided only the information contained in the court filings and have not issued any further public statements regarding the ongoing plea negotiations.
