Police release
sketch of attempted robbery suspect ADVERTISING Police release
sketch of attempted robbery suspect Big Island police have released a composite sketch of a man who reportedly attempted to rob another man in October and asking for the public’s
Police release
sketch of attempted robbery suspect
Big Island police have released a composite sketch of a man who reportedly attempted to rob another man in October and asking for the public’s help locating the suspect.
Around 8 p.m. Oct. 31, police responded to the Waiakea Villas after receiving a report from a 49-year-old Hilo man that while he was walking toward his vehicle in the parking lot, he was approached by a man who allegedly brandished a weapon and demanded money. The suspect then fled the area. The victim was not injured.
The man is described as “local,” in his late 20s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing approximately 200 pounds, with a light mustache. At the time of the attempted robbery, the man was wearing a black T-shirt, dark shorts and a cap embroidered with the words “B.J. Penn.”
Anyone who may know the identity of the suspect or who has any information on this incident should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Dean Uyetake at 961-2379 or deuytetake@co.hawaii.hi.us.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Firefighters quickly douse brush fire
Firefighters quickly extinguished a small brush fire Wednesday morning near mile marker 17 on Mamalahoa Highway in North Kona.
The Hawaii County Fire Department firefighters, responding to the 6:27 a.m. report, arrived to find a small brush fire on the mauka side of the highway, being fanned by mauka-to-makai winds, said Special Operations Battalion Chief Gerald Kosaki. The firefighters were able to hold the blaze to 900 square feet.
The fire was declared extinguished at 7:30 a.m., he said.
Police locate
missing Hilo girl
Big Island police on Tuesday reported they located 15-year-old Ashlyn Cruz-Labrador of Hilo Nov. 27. She had been reported missing and was found unharmed in Hilo, according to the Hawaii County Police Department.
West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery getting $15K for POW/MIA garden
Hawaii County will give the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery $15,000 to construct a memorial garden for prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action.
The County Council approved a resolution to allocate the funds in a 9-0 vote Wednesday.
There have been 81,705 POW/MIA soldiers since World War II, with 79 from Hawaii, according to the resolution.
North Kona Councilwoman Karen Eoff, who introduced the resolution, said the county will pay for the material and will work with the cemetery’s nonprofit organization to build the memorial.
Hawaii earns
‘D’ for judicial
financial disclosure
Despite receiving a “D” grade, earning 62 points out of 100, Hawaii’s financial disclosure law ranks as sixth best out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, according a report released this week by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit investigative news organization.
The Center for Public Integrity recently evaluated the disclosure rules for judges in the highest state courts nationwide. The level of disclosure in the 50 states and the District of Columbia was poor, with 43 receiving failing grades, making it difficult for the public to identify potential conflicts of interest on the bench. Federal disclosure earned a “B” grade.
The state earned full credit in the accessibility category because it posts financial disclosure records online. Hawaii judges must also report household income beyond their judicial salaries, according to the center. The state has strong gift-disclosure requirements, as well. In addition to reporting the source of gifts, judges must describe each gift and estimate its value.
While Hawaii requires judges to report their income they need to do so only in broad dollar ranges, rather than exact amounts, the center found. Additionally, judges aren’t required to report reimbursements for travel or other expenses. Unlike other states, they are required to report investment transactions.
Man sentenced to 20 years for sex assault
LIHUE, Kauai — A Kauai man convicted of sexually assaulting two developmentally challenged youths has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The Kauai Prosecuting Attorney’s office said Chad Vaughn Weigle was sentenced Wednesday.
The 48-year-old Kekaha man was convicted of first-degree sexual assault for assaulting the juvenile males in separate incidents.
Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar said Weigle preyed on the vulnerable and disadvantaged. Kollar said he hopes the sentence brings some closure for the victims.
Shark chases
Maui fishermen
near fatal bite site
KIHEI, Maui — The state said a hungry shark chased two fishermen out of southwestern Maui waters in the area of a recent deadly shark attack.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources closed waters off Makena State Park Wednesday after the fishermen reported that an 8- to 10-foot Galapagos shark was being aggressive.
The divers told lifeguards the shark made several passes at them while they were spearfishing off Black Sand Beach. They tried to fend off the animal with their spears but it wouldn’t retreat. So, they let the shark take their catch and headed back to shore.
The state said it’s in the vicinity of where a shark bit a kayak fisherman’s dangling foot Monday. The Washington state tourist later died of his injuries.
Man gets 10-year term for scamming pastor
HONOLULU — The Honolulu prosecuting attorney’s office says a man found guilty of scamming a pastor out of more than $100,000 has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The prosecutor’s office said Leon Faamama was sentenced Wednesday and was also ordered to pay $158,000 in restitution.
Prosecutors said Faamama was in a drug court program when he convinced the retired pastor he needed help paying for treatment and housing. He claimed he had filed a lawsuit against the court administrator and would repay the money when he prevailed.
Hawaii News Now reported the pastor used up all of his home equity and borrowed money from church members to pay Faamama.
Fisherman fined for taking undersized ulua
A Waipahu fisherman on Nov. 25 was sentenced to pay a fine after being convicted of taking or possessing an ulua less than 10 inches in length, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Lionel Tunac, 52, pleaded guilty to the offense and was fined $250, according to the department. Taking or possessing any ulua less than 10 inches in length is a petty misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000 and/or 30 days in jail.
Tunac was cited Oct. 11 by DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement for allegedly taking and possessing three undersized ulua from waters at Kalaeoa Deep Draft Harbor on Oahu, according to the department.
Wife of bounty hunter ‘Dog’ sees charge dismissed
DENVER — Prosecutors in Colorado have dismissed harassment charges against the wife of TV bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman.
Beth Chapman had been accused of verbally harassing a 16-year-old girl at a Colorado lake in July. A police report said witnesses told investigators that she called the girl names for wearing inappropriate clothing at Monument Lake on July 10.
Firewise coordinator’s email address
Firewise Communities Hawaii Coordinator Denise Laitinen’s email address is firewisehawaii@yahoo.com.
It is the policy of West Hawaii Today to correct promptly any incorrect or misleading information when it is brought to the attention of the newspaper.
By local and wire sources
