Big Island Police have arrested a 26-year-old Ka’u man for sexual assault.

John Appleby of Hawaiian Oceanview Estates was arrested Wednesday for first-degree sexual assault stemming from an incident that occurred Saturday (September 22). The female adult victim from Ka’u reported that while she was with the suspect in the area of Kaalualu Bay in Ka’u,  he held her against her will and sexually assaulted her. The suspect later released the victim, who suffered injuries about her body.

Appleby is being held at the Kona Police Station Cellblock on three contempt of court charges. The investigation into the sexual assault is continuing.