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Man charged in infant sex assault case

By Marisa Yamane

The Leeward Oahu man accused of sexually assaulting an infant has been charged with eleven counts of sex assault.

30-year old Danny Friddle was also charged with two counts of promoting child abuse.

Police say the thirteen charges stem from two separate incidents that involve the same young victim.

Police say both incidents were documented on videotape.

Honolulu prosecutors have charged Danny Friddle with eight counts of first degree sex assault and three counts of third degree sex assault.

Police say friddle, who was arrested wednesday afternoon, videotaped himself sexually assaulting the baby, once when she appeared to be younger than six months old, and another time when she was a little older.

Police have identified the baby.

Police received the mini dv tape from a woman, who says she found the tape at a bus stop in Kalihi earlier this week.

Just hours before she found the tape, friddle filed a police report at his workplace, Alii security in Kalihi.

He told police someone broke into his car and stole his camcorder and laptop .

Thursday night, police raided Friddle's rental unit in Honokai Hale...it's where they believe Friddle shot the video.

During the raid, police confiscated Friddle's desktop computer.

If police find that Friddle was posting the child pornographic video or images online, federal authorities could then step in.

"If it turns out he did videotape this, cognizant of fact that it was being recorded, that he was aware of the abuse, there are potential production charges and those carry a 15 year mandatory minimum," says Clare Connors, U.S. Attorney Office.

This isn't the first time Friddle has been under investigation for child abuse.

Nearly five years ago, child protective services placed Friddle's two young sons in foster care after confirming he threatened harm to them.

The boys were later released to their mother, who then moved back to the mainland, and the case was closed.

Tonight, Friddle remains at HPD's main cellblock. His bail is set at one hundred thousand dollars.

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