Volcano man accused of burglary, sex assault
A 36-year-old Volcano man is facing numerous felony charges in connection with an incident Sunday in Mountain View.
Brandon Benz-Marrs is charged with first-degree sex assault, kidnapping, first-degree burglary and two counts of domestic abuse aggravated by strangulation.
According to the complaint, Benz-Marrs entered the victim’s home with intent to commit a criminal act.
He allegedly restrained the victim, an adult woman, and impeded her normal breathing or circulation of blood while subjecting her by strong compulsion to an unwanted sex act.
The most serious offenses, kidnapping and first-degree sex assault, are Class A felonies punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment upon conviction. A conviction for first-degree burglary is a Class B felony carrying a maximum 10-year prison term. Domestic abuse aggravated by strangulation is a Class C felony with a maximum five-year prison sentence.
Court records indicate Benz-Marrs has no previous convictions except for traffic offenses.
At Benz-Marrs’ initial court appearance Tuesday, Deputy Public Defender Evans Smith requested that Benz-Marrs be freed on his own recognizance or on court-supervised release, each of which don’t require cash bail to be posted.
The motion to release Benz-Marrs drew an objection from Deputy Prosecutor Kevin Soong.
Hilo District Judge Kanani Laubach noted probable cause was found for the further detention of Benz-Marrs and denied the motion to release him. The judge also maintained Benz-Marrs’ $120,000 bail.
Laubach ordered Benz-Marrs to appear at 9 a.m. Thursday for a preliminary hearing.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
