‘Lost’ robbery suspect is charged

But the nine counts are for violence unrelated to the Hawaii Kai robbery

A 20-year-old man, suspected of the armed robbery of "Lost" actor Josh Holloway and his wife last Friday, was charged yesterday with nine counts unrelated to the robbery.

Ruben Royce: His mother had filed a restraining order against him

The charges include assaulting his girlfriend and violating restraining orders filed by his mother, who lives a block from the Holloways.

A day before the Holloways were robbed, Ruben Royce allegedly broke into his girlfriend's bedroom in Village Park at 5:15 a.m. and punched her in the head, a police affidavit said.

Before the assault, she ran to her police officer neighbor's house, but Royce pulled her back into the house. When the officer went outside, he could see Royce beating the woman, a court document said.

Royce's mother wrote in a temporary restraining order request, "I helped his pregnant girlfriend, who he beat up on Aug. 31, to file charges. I feel he will want revenge."

His mother wrote that she had allowed his girlfriend to stay at their Hawaii Kai house. She said her son had broken into their home to steal firearms, stole from many family members and has a history of violence and crystal methamphetamine use.

Police charged Royce yesterday with first-degree burglary, first-degree assault, car theft, two temporary restraining order violations and three counts of abuse of a household member.

Royce is being held on $125,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court this morning.

Holloway, who plays con man Sawyer on the TV series "Lost," and his wife were robbed at their Hawaii Kai home. Police said the suspect fled in the Holloways' Mercedes-Benz, with cash stolen from the couple.

Police, including a SWAT team, caught Royce Tuesday morning in Palolo at 7th Avenue and Keanu Street near Aliiolani Elementary School, which was locked down. He was spotted riding in a car with another man. Police fired wooden rounds and pepper spray pellets at the two men to subdue them.

On three occasions, Royce allegedly violated the TRO filed by his mother, which forbids him from approaching her and her home, according to court documents.

On Sept. 21, Royce allegedly pushed the girlfriend to the ground in Kaneohe.

On Sept. 25, Royce called his mother's house asking for his girlfriend. He later hit the girlfriend in the face with a cell phone as she stood at a Palolo bus stop. Later that day, his girlfriend and mother were lunching at the Palolo McDonald's when Royce allegedly grabbed the girlfriend by the midsection and tried to pull her out of the restaurant, scratching and bruising her.

Royce also has a history of car theft. On April 25, 2004, he stole a Mercedes-Benz in Hawaii Kai, and a Volkswagen Jetta in 2003. He pleaded guilty in both cases and received five years' probation. His probation in the 2004 case expires Nov. 22, 2009.