AT the conclusion of a two-day preliminary hearing, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho found probable cause to charge 17-year-old Kenneth Thomas Blas Kaipat with three counts of sexual assault in the first degree, two counts of sexual assault in the second degree, aggravated assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, strangulation, and burglary.
The judge ordered the parties to appear for a status conference on June 9 at 10 a.m., and set the jury trial for Sept. 20.
Following the testimony of Department of Public Safety Detective Leopoldo Duenas Jr. at the preliminary hearing, no other witnesses were called by the defense or the prosecution.
Kaipat appeared out of custody and was represented by attorney Brien Sers Nicholas. Nicholas presented 16 exhibits, which were accepted by the court.
For her part, Assistant Attorney General Samantha Vickery presented eight exhibits, which were also accepted by the court.
The alleged incident occurred in a San Vicente home in 2019 when the defendant was 16 years old.
On June 2, 2019, DPS said it responded to a “home invasion incident” and a “disturbance” in San Vicente where a woman was seriously hurt.
In June 2020, the juvenile suspect was arrested and taken to juvenile custody after DPS received a DNA laboratory test report from the FBI.
The case was later transferred to the adult court where all documents, information and hearings are now open to the public.
