KEALAKEKUA — Two people charged with intentionally lighting a fire at a courthouse and threatening a group of teenagers will have preliminary hearings next week following their initial court appearances on Thursday.
Randi-Keli Banagan, 24, of Captain Cook, and Kainoa Lindo, 22, of Honaunau, are both charged with first-degree arson, conspiracy to commit arson, first-degree criminal property damage and two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening.
Both were allegedly involved in an arson against the Kona Drug Court building on March 3, the same day Banagan was scheduled to be sentenced on a probation violation.
They also were reportedly involved in threatening teenagers at the scenic overlook on Kamehameha III Road on Sunday. After being arrested for the threatening offense, they were later charged for the arson.
Deputy prosecuting attorney Sheri Lawson asked that Banagan be held without bond, citing prior convictions for shooting a man in the chest in 2014, probation violation and violation of bail conditions.
She is being held on $1 million bond.
Judge Margaret Masunaga set the preliminary hearing for both defendants for 2:30 p.m. Monday. Judge Andrews Wilson will hear arguments about holding Banagan without bail at that time.
Judge Melvin Fujino, who sits at the courthouse that was damaged by the fire, has recused himself from the cases, Lawson said.
Banagan’s second count of terroristic threatening comes from an upgrade of the criminal property damage charge involved in the arson case, Lawson testified.
Banagan is additionally charged with revocation of probation, as she was on probation from a 2014 Holualoa shooting that injured a man.
Lindo is also charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle for allegedly driving a stolen truck seen at the arson scene. Lindo, who has no prior criminal convictions, is being held on $400,000 bail.
