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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Meals on Wheels gets donations
Donors have pumped in $83,000 in donations to Lanakila Meals on Wheels program, giving 212 seniors a month's reprieve from losing food service until Aug. 1.
"While that's truly making a difference, we still need to raise more than $300,000," said Lanakila marketing manager Marlena Willette.
After next month, $300,000 is needed to keep the 212 seniors in the program for a year. Lanakila blamed the upcoming funding shortage on government cutbacks and rising expenses.
Lanakila Meals on Wheels currently serves about 730 homebound senior citizens, 60 years or older, who receive less than $1,000 a month. Its volunteers deliver meals to seniors who can't cook or shop because of a disability.
Police workers face tax charges
Two Honolulu Police Department employees were indicted on state tax evasion charges yesterday.
Police officer William B. Gaspar Jr. and police matron Laura Chun allegedly failed to pay taxes, claimed excessive exemptions and failed to report and pay state income taxes on time, the Department of the Attorney General said in a news release.
Gaspar allegedly failed to pay $21,317 in state income taxes over four years. Chun allegedly failed to pay $10,586 in income taxes over a five-year period. Gaspar was charged with four counts of failing to file tax returns and of attempting to evade or defeat tax, while Chun was charged with five counts of each charge.
Gaspar, a 30-year HPD veteran, is assigned to patrol in District 2 (Central Oahu-North Shore), according to police spokeswoman Michelle Yu. Chun, a 25-year HPD veteran, is a civilian employee who assists with processing and booking of female prisoners, Yu said.
"We are saddened by the allegations involving two longtime employees," Police Chief Boisse Correa said in a written statement. "HPD employees are sworn to follow the law, and paying taxes is the legal responsibility of every citizen. We have and will continue to cooperate with the Attorney General's Office."
Attempt to evade or defeat tax is a Class C felony, punishable by a maximum five years' imprisonment and a $100,000 fine. Failure to timely file a tax return is a misdemeanor, with up to a year in prison and a $25,000 fine.
Recital will benefit UH lab school
A benefit piano recital will be held Sunday for the University of Hawaii's Laboratory School building.
A fire last in June 2006 destroyed the building and all of its contents, save for a cello that a student borrowed over the summer. Athletics, choral, drama, Hawaiian culture and strings programs all took a hit, and more funds were needed.
The University Laboratory School Alumni Association established a fundraising drive, including Sunday's recital presented by Ernest Chang Studio and performer Wendy Yamashita.
The recital is at 4 p.m. at Mamiya Theatre at Saint Louis High School. General admission tickets are $20, with $12 for senior sand students. Tickets may be reserved at 394-8811 or can be bought at the door.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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HONOLULU
Three charged with racing cars on H-1
Authorities charged three men yesterday with racing on the H-1 freeway more than 30 mph over the speed limit.
Three officers from the Selective Enforcement Unit arrested the men early yesterday morning for allegedly racing on the H-1 freeway near the Halawa onramp.
Jonathan A.C. Cabasag, 22, of Kalihi; Kale B. Kupau-Alcain, 19, of Kapolei; and Corbin Calido Sejalbo, 19, of Ewa, were arrested at 12:10 a.m. yesterday. The name of a fourth man arrested wasn't available.
The three men were charged yesterday and released on $250 bail each.
Boy accuses teen of sexual assault
Police arrested a 14-year-old boy for allegedly sexually assaulting a 4-year-old boy in Honolulu.
Police said the victim told his parents that he was sexually assaulted by the suspect, described as his neighbor, about 3 p.m. Tuesday. The 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of first-degree sexual assault. The case is pending investigation.
KSSK radio office is burglarized
Police are looking for two men who allegedly burglarized the KSSK radio office in Iwilei the evening of June 5.
Police said radio station employees arrived about 8:15 a.m. June 6 at the 650 Iwilei Road office and discovered several items missing.
A surveillance video caught a man searching the cubicles on June 5 between 5:34 p.m. and 5:38 p.m.
NORTH SHORE
Man found beaten is getting better
Police report improvement in the condition of a 32-year-old man who was found severely beaten in the bushes in Waialua last week.
Lt. Bill Kato of the Honolulu Police Department's Homicide Detail said the victim is expected to be released from the Queen's Medical Center shortly.
Police, meanwhile, arrested a 34-year-old Waialua woman Wednesday in connection with the stabbing of the victim.
About 6:30 a.m. June 22, a man walking his dog found the victim on Cane Haul Road. Police had said the dog's owner drove him to the Waialua Fire Station, where personnel discovered the victim had suffered multiple stab wounds. He was taken to Queen's in critical condition.
Officers from the Wahiawa Crime Reduction Unit arrested the 34-year-old suspect Wednesday on an outstanding bench warrant. Police said homicide detectives received information on the suspect in connection with the stabbing.
Kato said the suspect and victim are acquaintances. The woman was arrested on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder. The case is pending further investigation.
WEST OAHU
Man, 75, accused of assaults on girl
Police arrested yesterday a 75-year-old Waikele man for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old family member multiple times between 2000 and 2002.
Police said the girl told school officials the man allegedly sexually assaulted her from Sept. 18, 2000, to Sept. 17, 2002.
Police contacted the man, who turned himself in to police 10:05 a.m. yesterday.
The man was arrested on two counts of first-degree sexual assault and three counts of third-degree sexual assault.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Fire forces animals to be evacuated
Heavy smoke from a fire at a waste transfer station in Kealakehe forced the evacuation of 90 animals from the Hawaii Island Humane Society in Kona yesterday.
Police said the fire began at 11:32 p.m. Wednesday at the Solid Waste Transfer Station.
Winds shifted about 10 a.m. yesterday, pushing large amounts of smoke to Kealakehe police station, causing the closure of the records section. The station remained open to the public for other police business.
Haleakala is site of body recovery
Park rangers and firefighters today were to resume efforts to recover a body, described to be that of a middle-aged man, below a popular overlook at Haleakala National Park.
Park rangers discovered the body Wednesday about 500 feet below Leleiwi Overlook, said spokesman Dominic Cardea.
Cardea said the victim's rented vehicle was left for about a week in the parking lot about a quarter-mile from the overlook. The victim's personal effects were in the vehicle. Cardea said the vehicle was recently towed away.
Positive identification of the man has yet to be made.
Recovery efforts were suspended Wednesday and yesterday due to cloudy and rainy weather, Cardea said. The overlook was temporarily closed several hours Wednesday and yesterday during the efforts.
Cardea said the site was to be closed several hours today during recovery efforts.