A 23-year-old Ocean View man on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to a host of charges filed in connection with two robberies reported Jan. 26 in Ka‘u.
Kainoa Kahele-Bishop pleaded not guilty to first-degree robbery involving a dangerous instrument and force, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, second-degree theft, second-degree robbery involving threatened force, second-degree terroristic threatening, and third-degree theft before 3rd Circuit Court Chief Judge Ronald Ibarra in South Kona. Ibarra set trial for Kahele-Bishop for 9 a.m. June 10.
Also during the arraignment and plea hearing, Ibarra maintained bail at $98,000 for Kahele-Bishop, who remains held at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
The first-degree robbery, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and second-degree theft charges stem from a robbery that occurred about 9 a.m. Jan. 26 on South Point Road in which Kahele-Bishop reportedly accompanied 25-year-old Trinety S. Crapser, of Ocean View, who goes on trial in connection with that incident June 3.
The remaining charges, second-degree robbery involving threatened force, second-degree terroristic threatening, and third-degree theft, stem from another alleged robbery on Jan. 26 reported by a 48-year-old man who told police after recognizing Kahele-Bishop’s picture in a press release that he had been robbed by Kahele-Bishop while fishing at South Point.
According to police, the man reported that he was confronted, threatened with bodily harm and robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash. Court records said the amount was greater than $100. Police charged Kahele-Bishop with the offenses Jan. 31.
During a Jan. 31 preliminary hearing held in 3rd Circuit District Court, the victim of the South Point Road robbery, Trudi Grentz, testified that Crapser, while wielding a hatchet, demanded possession of her Corvette.
She told the court she had parked the vehicle but left it running while placing signs along the roadway, when a white car came to a stop near her vehicle. Crapser allegedly got out, walked around the Corvette and demanded possession of the vehicle.
A scuffle ensued with Grentz gaining control of the hatchet and throwing it into the bushes. Crapser entered the vehicle but was unable to start it. Grentz testified that Crapser bit her right arm and pulled her hair during the struggle.
While the women were struggling, Grentz said a man, later identified as Kahele-Bishop, exited from the passenger side of the white vehicle, and reached into the passenger side of the Corvette and removed a large bag containing a laptop, cellphone, wallet and jewelry-making tools and supplies. Kahele-Bishop allegedly then fled in the white car, heading southbound on South Point Road.
The women continued to struggle, until another man arrived at the scene. While waiting for police, Crapser reportedly fled. Police investigation subsequently led to the identification and arrest of Crapser on Jan. 27 and Kahele-Bishop on Jan. 30.
Crapser pleaded not guilty Feb. 11 before Ibarra to first-degree robbery, second-degree attempted assault, third-degree assault, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and attempted unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle. Crapser, who remains held on $72,000 bail, is slated to go on trial at 9 a.m. June 3.
