Former Honolulu Mid-Pacific teacher pleads no contest to sexually assaulting student

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A former Mid-Pacific Institute teacher pleaded no contest Thursday to two counts of third-degree sexual assault involving a student who was 10 years old when the abuse was reported, according to statements made in court.

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Casey Link was indicted in June 2025 on four counts of sexual assault of a minor. Under a plea agreement, the most serious count was dropped and Link agreed to plead no contest to two counts of sexual assault in the third degree.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Thalia B.P. Murphy told the court that the alleged abuse occurred between 2022 and 2023, while Link was working as a teacher at Mid-Pacific Institute.

Murphy said Link repeatedly sexually assaulted the student inside the classroom while class was in session.

“In count 2, the conduct is that the defendant would place his hand on her breast. He would grope her breast. Count 4, that he would place his hand on her buttock,” Murphy said in court.

The prosecutor said the student had Link as her teacher for two years.

“It happened during the third and fourth grade. She had the defendant for both grades as her teacher,” Murphy said.

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The state also said the abuse began earlier, during story time, while other students were present in the classroom.

According to the state, the child was 10 years old when the abuse was reported in December 2023.

During the hearing, Judge Brian A. Costa asked Link how he pleaded to the two charges.

“And what is your plea to that charge?” Costa asked.

“No contest,” Link responded.

Costa then formally accepted Link’s no-contest pleas to counts two and four and found him guilty of sexual assault in the third degree on both counts.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Mid-Pacific Institute said:

“Mid-Pacific remains committed to our students’ safety. Upon receiving a report in mid-December 2023 regarding alleged inappropriate contact involving a teacher and a student, we immediately notified the appropriate agencies and cooperated fully with the HPD in their investigation. We placed the teacher on administrative leave and retained a third party to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations. That investigation concluded, and the teacher was terminated in early January 2024 in accordance with the school’s policies. Our focus continues to be on the well-being of our students and our community.”

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Link is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3.

He faces up to five years in prison for each count of sexual assault.