Lawyer’s ID theft
drama ends

Police recover a birth certificate, passport
and Social Security card lost in a burglary

A fugitive caught impersonating a prominent Honolulu attorney also tried to convince officers he was the victim's son, according to a police affidavit.

Jonathan Saatkamp, 27, allegedly told Bank of Hawaii tellers that he was William McCorriston, and tried to cash a personal check and withdraw $500 on Friday. When questioned by police, he allegedly said he was Bill McCorriston Jr., the victim's son.

Nice try, the real McCorriston said yesterday. Though he does have a son the same age as the suspect, McCorriston said his name is Michael, not Junior.

"They even look alike a little," McCorriston said. "My son's better looking, though."

McCorriston said someone had been using his personal information and credit cards for months, and had already withdrawn money from his account successfully on several occasions before Saatkamp's arrest.

"It brings home in a very personal way how identity theft is such a problem," he said. "It's incredible the information they steal. ... They use information to get other private information so soon they know everything about you."

Saatkamp had all the information he needed. According to the affidavit, police recovered McCorriston's birth certificate, passport and Social Security card from the suspect's vehicle parked at the bank, which turned out to be a stolen gold Lexus.

McCorriston said his personal items and those of other attorneys in his firm had been taken during a burglary in June at his offices at Restaurant Row. He said his things were taken from a locked cabinet from his office, which is in a secured area on the fifth floor.

The burglary happened on a weekend, and by the time McCorriston found out about it, someone had already been charging gas and pizza on his credit cards.

"I thought my things were secure, but I guess not," he said. "You have no idea the hundreds of hours my wife and I have spent trying to deal with the situation, and it's still going."

Saatkamp was also the main suspect in the theft of a woman's purse that was taken from Kuakini Medical Center. Later, the woman's apartment was burglarized. Police said the suspect stole about $50,000 in jewelry.

Saatkamp now faces 21 charges, including second-degree forgery, identity theft, theft, auto theft, detaining stolen property, attempted theft and drug offenses. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in District Court today at which McCorriston plans to testify.

"I guess I should be flattered that the bank tellers thought I could pass for a 27-year-old guy," said McCorriston, who turned 61 earlier this week.