A 44-year-old O'ahu man who recently settled a molestation lawsuit against a Catholic priest was arrested yesterday on charges that he sexually assaulted a minor girl in 1996.

Eugene Saulibio was indicted Nov. 21 by a Kaua'i grand jury on four counts of first-degree sexual assault. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest last Wednesday and state sheriff's deputies arrested him yesterday morning at his 'Aiea home.

Saulibio was flown to Kaua'i, posted $80,000 bail, and returned to O'ahu. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Kaua'i Circuit Court tomorrow.

A first-degree sexual assault conviction carries a maximum 20 years in prison.

Saulibio, a financial adviser and parent, last night declined to comment on the accusations but he said he was "very confident" he will be exonerated.

"I can just say that like the case against Father Joe and The Fathers of the Sacred Hearts, the truth will come out," Saulibio said. "The truth will set you free. ..."

Saulibio is accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl from July 1 to Aug. 31, 1996. The indictment did not say how old the girl was or her relationship to Saulibio.

The indictment came three weeks after Saulibio settled a lawsuit that accused the Rev. Joseph Bukoski III of sexually assaulting Saulibio when he was 15 years old. Bukoski, who did not face criminal charges, was accused of providing Saulibio drugs and alcohol and molesting him in the summer of 1976.

Kaua'i Prosecutor Craig DeCosta last night said the timing of the indictment had nothing to do with the court settlement.

"The indictment would not be timed with anything else, except that the investigation needed to be completed and the deputy assigned to the case would have needed to feel ready to proceed to the grand jury," DeCosta said.

He said the statute-of-limitations timespan to bring sexual assault charges when a minor is the victim is six years and the clock starts when the victim turns 18.

As part of the settlement with Saulibio, Bukoski agreed to pay Saulibio $50 a month for the next 10 years. He also apologized to Saulibio, although he stopped short of admitting wrongdoing. Bukoski also is prevented from working with children or ministering publicly.

Saulibio also received a financial settlement and apology from The Fathers of the Sacred Hearts, which was accused of disregarding knowledge of Bukoski's inappropriate behavior and continuing to employ him. Terms of the settlement have not been released.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com and Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.