Some of the alleged victims were her students. Raysean Paglinawan, 21, made her initial appearance in court on Monday. She turned herself in to Kona police on Saturday after a grand jury indicted last week.

Prosecutors would not comment on whether the children are boys or girls. All three were under the age of 14 when the alleged assaults began.

The alleged crimes happened between June 2004 and August 2007. Paglinawan was a hip-hop dance instructor at Naalehu Theatre during part of that period.

"Unfortunately, sex assaults do occur and what we have here is, fortunately, victims who were willing to come forward and tell the police what had happened to them," said deputy prosecuting attorney Darien Nagata.

Paglinawan is charged with 22 counts of first-degree sex assault, 12 counts of third-degree sex assault, two counts of violation of an order for protection, and one count of custodial interference for taking or detaining a minor. Her trial is set for January 26.

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