A Honolulu police officer is facing a slate of sex assault charges after a state grand jury tied him to an alleged on-duty encounter in Waikiki. The indictment names 26-year-old Officer Christopher John A. Oallesma and alleges he went back to a woman's hotel room while still in uniform after pulling her over, according to court records. His police powers have been removed, and he is free on bail ahead of a court hearing Monday.
Allegations and indictment
As reported by Hawaii News Now, a state grand jury on Tuesday indicted Oallesma on eight counts of sexual assault, along with charges of official misconduct, obstruction of justice and using a computer in the commission of a crime. The indictment states that the alleged contact followed an April 6 traffic stop in Waikiki and that prosecutors claim Oallesma later tried to influence and obstruct the case using coercion, fraud or the threat of force.
According to the outlet, Oallesma used a bail bondsman to post $150,000 bail. Interim Chief Rade Vanic called the allegations “very serious” and said an internal investigation is underway alongside the criminal case.
Community reaction
Retired HPD deputy chief John McCarthy told Hawaii News Now the situation was “very intimidating,” pointing out that an officer in uniform carries clear authority that can be abused. Common Cause Hawaii director Camron Hurt called the allegations “despicable” and warned that cases like this can erode public trust, even as he stressed that most officers serve honorably.
Officer previously named in federal suit
Court dockets show Oallesma was named as a defendant in a federal civil rights lawsuit filed in December 2024, listed alongside several other HPD officers, according to the court record on Justia. Being named in a civil suit is not a criminal conviction, and the allegations in the grand jury indictment still must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
Broader trust concerns
The indictment is landing in the middle of long-running concerns about accountability at the Honolulu Police Department, where investigative reporting has documented hundreds of misconduct incidents over the past two decades. A Civil Beat review of HPD disciplinary records detailed patterns of secrecy and serious allegations that have fueled calls for more transparency and stronger oversight.
Oallesma remains out on $150,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court Monday. Prosecutors say the charges could carry decades in prison if enhanced sentences apply. HPD has stripped him of his police powers while the internal probe and the criminal case move forward.
