Sex-offender pleads with judge to end 'scarlet letter'
Convicted sex-offender Russell Akina doesn't want to go through life branded with a high-tech "scarlet letter" for his crime, especially since he paid his debt to society with 15 years in prison.Akina, the first person in the state accused of violating sex-offender registration rules for failing to inform officials of an address change, yesterday asked the state to dismiss his case.
Todd Eddins, Akina's attorney, argued that the state's law requiring all convicted sex offenders to register to provide easy public access to their names was unconstitutional.
He said the law allows the public to track private information on sex-offenders in registration manuals as well as electronically on the Internet, amounting in Akina's case to a second round of punishment for his 1980 offense.
Eddins said the law, which took effect last July, also violated the Constitution's privacy and due process clauses.
He called the law, with its lifelong registration requirement and instant information dissemination through the Internet, a "high-tech scarlet letter."
Lawsuit denied, Mililani school to open in June
The first track of sixth-graders to attend the new Mililani Middle School will begin their academic year as scheduled June 17.A state judge on Friday denied a motion filed by a group of Mililani parents to stop the Department of Education from opening the school with a multitrack schedule.
Circuit Judge Marie Milks, among other reasons, concluded that the public interest would not be served by disruption of the school's opening, said Deputy Attorney General James Chang.
Mililani parents Laura Brown, Jo Ann Inouye, Guy P. Ontai and Pennylynn Ontai filed suit May 22 claiming the department failed to get the public's input on the multitrack, year-round schedule.
The judge held that the adoption of the multitrack schedule was not an administrative rule and therefore did not require public hearings, said Connie Meredith, the parents' attorney.
The judge stated that the basis of her ruling was that, although the adoption of the rule would cause an inconvenience to parents and children, it did not affect their right to a public education, Meredith said.
The parents have not yet decided what they want to do next, she said. They still can file a motion for a preliminary injunction.
"Even if they do, we would not be required to halt the opening of the school until there is a preliminary injunction ordered," Chang said.
Hickam general may head Space Command
Gen. Richard Myers, commander of Pacific Air Forces headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base, has been nominated as commander of the U.S. Space Command.His nomination is subject to Senate approval.
His new assignment also means that he will be commander of the North American Aerospace Command and the Air Force Space Command.
Myers has been at Hickam since July 7, 1997.
His replacement will be Lt. Gen. Patrick Gamble, who is now deputy chief of staff at the Air Force headquarters in the Pentagon.
Kailua-bound lanes on Pali to be closed
Pali Highway early Saturday will lose two of its three Kailua-bound lanes, starting a half-mile past Waokanaka Street.Crews will be cutting roadside trees from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Motorists are urged to use caution and allow for extra travel time.
Kailua seeks 4th of July parade participants
The Kailua Chamber of Commerce's Fourth of July parade is coming.The chamber is seeking participants for its annual march through Kailua. Interested applicants may pick up an entry at the chamber's offices at 146 Hekili St., Suite 201. Applications must be submitted by June 15.
The organization also sponsors an 8 p.m. fireworks show above Kailua Bay and has holiday coupon books available for purchase. All proceeds go to next year's fireworks show.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffSuspect charged in son's death
A Nanakuli man who said he accidentally dropped his 3-month-old son on his head in the bathroom will stand trial for murder.An Oahu grand jury yesterday indicted Eugene Tabag for second-degree murder in the death of his son, Austin Tabag-Doi, on Sunday.
The infant was pronounced dead at Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center after Tabag brought him unconscious to the clinic.
An autopsy determined that the infant died of a skull fracture with intercranial injury.
Tabag, in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail, faces life in prison with parole if convicted as charged.
City doctors sued for fondling
Three female police officers and a former officer have filed suit against the city claiming that city doctors fondled them and sexually harassed them during mandatory physical examinations.The city has refused to settle the case. Elizabeth Jubin Fujiwara, attorney for the four women, had sought $3.5 million as a "global settlement" in a claim against the city.
Named as co-defendants in the case are the city Department of Health and its director, Salvatore Lanzilotti.
Fujiwara said one of her clients reported that a doctor continued to "grope" her breast even after she told him her own physician had examined for lumps.
"We have not received any information as of this time that leads us to believe this attorney's clients have a valid claim against the city or its doctors," Corporation Counsel David Arakawa said in a news release.
Arakawa said a female chaperon was present during each of the exams.
Suit filed over alleged gas burns
LIHUE -- A man who claims he received chemical burns from a gasoline spill while swimming in Kalapaki Bay has sued the three companies he believes are responsible.In a Circuit Court lawsuit, Christopher Graehl says he wasn't aware of the 1,800-gallon gasoline spill in Nawiliwili Stream on Aug. 12, 1996, when underground pipes supplying a nearby gas station burst.
The stream empties into the bay near Nawiliwili Harbor where Graehl says he swam for more than an hour.
Graehl says he still requires treatment for chronic sinusitis and chemical sensitivity as a result of his exposure to the gasoline.
The suit asks for unspecified damages and names as defendants Senter Petroleum Co., Total Containment Inc. and Dayco Products Inc.
Kauai-based Senter Petroleum officials were not available for comment.
Man charged in welfare fraud
An Oahu grand jury has indicted Simon T. Manash for welfare fraud.Manash -- also known as Michael S. Davis, Simon Manas and Michael C. Boyer -- was indicted for second-degree theft. He is accused of fraudulently obtaining welfare benefits totaling more than $14,000.
Bail for the Kalakaua Avenue man, originally from the Virgin Islands, is set at $20,000.
Anyone with information on welfare fraud is asked to call the fraud hot line at 587-8444.
Police probe apparent beating of infant
Police yesterday opened a first-degree assault case following the apparent beating of a 6-month-old Molokai girl.The girl was at her Nanikai Place home in Molokai when her caretakers discovered swelling to her right leg, police said. The caretakers waited until the next day to take her to the hospital.
At the hospital, physicians discovered a fractured right leg and ordered the girl to be airlifted to Kapiolani Hospital for further medical attention.
Kapiolani doctors discovered the girl's left elbow to be fractured as well.
The doctors reported to officials that the girl's injuries are suspicious, police said.
No arrests had been made as of this morning.
Masked man robs Waialua store
Police are searching for a masked man who robbed a Waialua store at gunpoint.A 76-year-old man was alone at 2:30 p.m. at his store on Goodale Avenue when the suspect demanded money and brandished a handgun, police said. When the man refused to give him money, the suspect hit him twice.
The suspect then fled with the man's wallet.
Man threatens woman with fingernail clippers
Police yesterday arrested a 50-year-old homeless man for allegedly threatening a woman's life with fingernail clippers.The man became upset and reportedly threatened the 49-year-old woman when his social security check was not available to be picked up at the Lanakila Health Center, police said. The man was booked at 10:40 a.m. for first-degree terroristic threatening.
Suspect to be arraigned in Hanalei robbery
LIHUE -- Kauai police arrested a Hanalei man Tuesday in connection with the May 12 robbery of a Island Hemp and Cotton store in Hanalei.Jaime Landsdale, 23, is scheduled to be arraigned this morning on charges of first-degree robbery for allegedly holding a store clerk at knifepoint and stealing more than $200.
Police raid suspected crack house in Hilo
HILO -- Police charged a Hilo man with promoting a dangerous drug after a raid on a suspected crack house yesterday produced a small amount of crack cocaine, they said.Warren Mehau, 36, of Puueo Street was arrested with his wife, but she was released without charges, and additional charges of abuse of a household member, violating a restraining order, and contempt of court were filed against Mehau. He is being held in lieu of $14,000 bail.
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