Bail denied, mental evaluation ordered for Hilo man accused of Japan flight sex assault

A 29-year-old Hilo man accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger on a flight to Japan on Oct. 11 will be held without bail, U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Chang ruled Tuesday.

Chang also ordered an evaluation to determine whether Michael Tanouye, who remains held at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu, is competent to stand trial, said Tom Simon, an FBI special agent in Honolulu. The next status hearing for Tanouye is slated for Dec. 19.

Tanouye’s attorney, Richard Sing, filed the motion to determine the suspect’s mental competency and sanity on Monday.

Tanouye was arrested after a Japan Airlines flight from Honolulu to Osaka was diverted back to the airport just two hours after taking off. He was charged with interfering with a flight crew and aggravated sexual assault aboard an aircraft.

According to the FBI, Tanouye forced his way into one of the lavatories as a female passenger, identified as a Japanese national, was trying to exit. The woman, whose age is unknown, pushed an emergency button inside the lavatory.

Tanouye was blocking the door but the woman’s mother, a flight attendant and other passengers were able to open it by removing a screw from a door hinge. Three male passengers subdued him; one was injured in the process.