HPD detective work
lauded in Mililani
rape cases break

The suspect is being held
on multiple charges of sexual assault
and kidnapping

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

Detective Woletta Kim was hoping for a break in the Mililani rape cases when she asked Wahiawa patrol officers in August to notify her about any reported sex crimes in the area, even misdemeanors.

The effort paid off Saturday when Kim was notified at 4:20 p.m. about a misdemeanor case in which a man allegedly exposed himself to a 16-year-old girl in Mililani.

The girl provided police with a description of the suspect and his vehicle but more importantly, the car's license plate number, "FTB-720."

While police were looking for the suspect at his Whitmore Village home and the Mililani residence of his parents, Detective Sheryl Sunia was sent to investigate the rape of a 14-year-old girl.

"The lights began flashing when we saw similarities in the descriptions of the vehicle and suspect in both cases," Kim said. "Because of what happened Saturday, we now had a license plate number to work with."

Because they could connect information from both cases, detectives could move swiftly for charges.

James Allen Thompson, 36, of Kanikani Place was arrested Sunday and charged later that day on multiple sexual assault counts and kidnapping stemming from Saturday's two cases.

Yesterday, the charges were expanded as Thompson was indicted on 19 counts of sexual assault and five counts of kidnapping in connection with attacks on six teen-age girls, including Saturday's two victims. Circuit Judge Victoria Marks set Thompson's bail at $500,000.

Thompson was identified Tuesday in a lineup by six victims, including one who was brought in from the mainland, said police Lt. Donna Andersen of the Children Sex Crimes Detail.

"We felt he would have hit again," Andersen said. "He was escalating what he was doing."

Deputy Prosecutor Paul Wong praised Anderson's detectives for putting together a solid case: "What the detectives did was one of the finest investigations I've ever seen in terms of the amount of time they put in, the coordination and teamwork."

The timing of Saturday's kidnapping and rape, which occurred only a few hours after the exposure incident, is unusual, Kim said. "In most situations, they wouldn't strike again on the same day."

Thompson is not the "Mililani rapist," said Myles Breiner, who appeared with Thompson in court yesterday but has not yet been retained as his attorney. "I'm not aware of any physical evidence linking him to any crime Parading him before the public and labeling him as the Mililani rapist violates his due process."

Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said, "This guy's reign of terror has come to a shrieking halt."

Indicted in six cases

An Oahu grand jury yesterday indicted James Allen Thompson on 19 counts of sexual assault and five counts of kidnapping stemming from six attacks this year in Mililani and Wahiawa on girls, ages 14 to 16:

Jan. 2: One count first-degree sexual assault, three counts third-degree sexual assault, one count kidnapping. Girl, 14, was allegedly forced at knifepoint into car at Lanikuhana Avenue at 10:45 p.m. and taken to a Waipio pineapple field where she was sexually assaulted.

Feb. 13: Kidnapping. Allegedly grabbed girl, 15, from behind at 7:50 p.m. and attempted to drag her into Mililani Waena Park. Fled when girl began screaming.

July 8: Kidnapping. Girl, 16, waiting at a Kamehameha Highway bus stop accepted a ride at 9:30 p.m. but jumped out of the car on Waikalani Drive as Thompson allegedly drove toward a pineapple field.

Aug. 9: One count first-degree sexual assault, two counts third-degree sexual assault, one count kidnapping. Girl, 15, walking from a bus stop to a friend's home at 8:30 p.m. was allegedly forced at knifepoint into a car at Holanialii Neighborhood Park in Mililani and taken to a deserted area at the end of Paiwa Street in Waikele where she was sexually assaulted.

Sept. 27: Fourth-degree sexual assault. Allegedly exposed his genitals to girl, 16, at Hokuala Street and Kuahelani Avenue at 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 27: Six counts of first-degree sexual assault, two counts of attempted first-degree sexual assault, three counts of third-degree sexual assault, one count kidnapping. Allegedly forced a girl, 14, into his car at knifepoint at 6 p.m. on Kuahelani and Lanikuhana avenues and drove her to a pineapple field where she was sexually assaulted.