I was the head deacon at this church. He began to make advances in May but did not carry it farther until later. It started with leering and veiled comments and progressed from there. Mr. Hattori was putting a positive spin on it. The guy sent the girl text messages that said things like: “Your lips are mine” “I dream of you” “Why did you wear that sexy red dress? Don’t you know what that does to me?” “You know my wife is too old for me.”
That he did not carry the situation farther is, I think; only because the girl spoke up.
Her father has cancer and was traveling back and forth to the Philippines for treatment. She put up with it for months because her parents had enough on their plate as it was.
He lied to the church about the severity of the situation. He then lied to the HPBC and the Micronesia Association about the severity of the charges leading us to believe they had been dropped.
He is, quite simply guilty as sin. All I will say in his defense is that I do not think this was habitual thing for him. If he were a serial molester he’d have been more careful.
Thanks.