Texas might extend
terms for isle inmates

Thirteen are indicted there
for prison-related offenses

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

Thirteen Hawaii inmates were indicted in Texas yesterday for prison-related offenses at the Newton County Correctional Center, officials there said.

The inmates face the possibility of remaining in the Texas prison after completing sentences imposed by Hawaii courts, according to Hawaii corrections officials.

The indictments come after a series of incidents at the facility, operated by the Bobby Ross Group. The company has come under fire by the Newton County board of court commissioners, resulting in State Public Safety Director Keith Kaneshiro said Saturday that even if Newton County fires BRG, the state's contract to house Hawaii's 435 inmates is with Newton County, which would be obligated to fulfill the contract and keep the inmates until 1999.

Kaneshiro has told legislators that the Hawaii inmates started fires and riots on Dec. 7 and on several other occasions, believing that "if they caused such problems, they would be returned to Hawaii."

But Kaneshiro had emphasized that he wanted Texas officials to prosecute the inmates who initiated the riots and fires as examples that such behavior will not be tolerated.

The state has sent 600 inmates to Texas to alleviate crowding in facilities here. Kaneshiro plans to send another 600 to the mainland this year.

Eleven Hawaii inmates were indicted for criminal mischief stemming from a Dec. 7 incident in which they broke out of a dormitory, released other inmates and started a fire that caused nearly $300,000 worth of damage.

They are Frank Enos, Garrett Carreira, Bob Emch, Clarence Gonsalves, Beau Geste Ah Nee, Billy Holbron, James Kahaleua, Herman Frank Miranda, William Napeahi, Ryan Piiohia and Glendon Young.

Carreira and Gonsalves, along with Antonio Belen, also were charged with kidnapping and assaulting a corrections officer Feb. 26.

The Newton County grand jury also charged Matthew Treu and an Oklahoma inmate with felony escape. The two left the prison through a fire exit Aug. 30, 1997, stole a truck belonging to a prison guard and drove to nearby Hemphill, where they were caught.

Treu's escape attempt was based on the erroneous belief that he could not be prosecuted in Texas because he was a Hawaii resident, according to state prison officials. His trial will be held May 11.

Of the four BRG facilities housing Hawaii inmates, Newton has registered the most problems.