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Federal Judge David Ezra has ruled that Big Island hemp advocate Aaron Anderson's civil-rights lawsuit against Hawaii County may include evidence of profits lost by a hemp business cut short by police action. Hemp advocate wins a
round in civil-rights suitIn 1991, police seized 25 pounds of bird feed containing sterilized hemp seeds which had been legally imported from China. A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration official testified later that the seeds were legal under federal law.
Anderson said he bought the seed for human food products.
When he was tried by the Hawaii County prosecutor's office for possession of marijuana, the case ended in a hung jury.
The deputy prosecutor handling his case, Kay Iopa, stated in court that Anderson was prosecuted because he was an outspoken marijuana legalization advocate.
Anderson sued the county for alleged violation of his civil rights.
On Monday, Ezra rejected the argument of county attorney Steven Christensen that all hemp products are illegal in Hawaii, opening the way for testimony on economic harm to Anderson, said his attorney, Steven Strauss.
Ezra refused to hear Anderson's claims that the county maliciously prosecuted him for possessing the seeds.
Council panel urges ban on fireworks
The City Council's Policy Committee wants the state Legislature to take some action this session on New Year's fireworks.The committee yesterday moved out a resolution calling on legislators to ban fireworks statewide, ban them on Oahu only or allow each of the four counties to decide the issue for themselves.
The Legislature took away county jurisdiction over fireworks in 1994. Meanwhile, Council members expressed concern about the impact of fireworks on health.
"Now is the time for the state Legislature to do the right thing in the best interest of the public," said Policy Chairman John Henry Felix, who introduced the resolution.
Police Capt. Forrest Broome said one of the chief reasons the situation has worsened is that aerials and some other types of pyrotechnics are illegal to most, but are allowed for licensees.
That makes it legal for merchants to sell those types of fireworks -- ostensibly to licensees, but inexorably to the general public.
Profit margins on the sale of such fireworks are so great that a petty misdemeanor charge for selling them illegally "is not a deterrent," Broome said.
Pentagon to fund state anti-terrorism effort
The Pentagon has selected Hawaii as one of 17 states that will receive funding to hire 22 Army and Air National Guard personnel to help local authorities combat biological and chemical terrorism attacks.Last year, the Department of Defense set up 10 rapid assessment and initial detection, or RAID, teams that would assist local police, firefighters and other county agencies responding to a terrorist threat. The name was recently changed to Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams.
Seventeen more teams were named today under a $30 million appropriation approved by Congress.
Newly appointed state Adjutant General Ed Correa said he expects Hawaii's team to be fully operational within a year.
"It will boost our response capability tenfold," said Correa, head of Hawaii's Army and Air National Guard.
Last year, county officials were faced with their first biological threat when they responded to the possibility that the anthrax virus was mailed to an Ala Moana Boulevard office building that once housed Planned Parenthood of Hawaii.
Jury finds murder 'especially heinous'
KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii -- A Kona jury has determined that Jefferson "Kaui" Pau's actions were "especially heinous" when he killed Itsuko Ito, 72, in her Keaau home last year by stabbing her numerous times.The decision Tuesday was the second part of the jury's verdict, following its earlier verdict that he was guilty. The two-part process is required when prosecutors allege a murder is "especially heinous."
The "heinous" verdict will allow Judge Ronald Ibarra to sentence Pau, 24, to life without parole. Sentencing is set for Feb. 22.
Ex-Kauai cop serving time for gasoline theft
LIHUE -- A former Kauai police officer has begun serving a 90-day jail term for the theft of more than $1,000 worth of gasoline from the Kauai Police Department.Malcolm Rodrigues, 27, a five-year veteran, was sentenced on the felony theft charge Tuesday and began serving his sentence yesterday. He also was ordered to repay the county $1,041, provide 200 hours of community service and serve five years' probation.
Rodrigues also was sentenced Tuesday to two years' probation and 200 hours of community service on separate misdemeanor charges of extortion and failing to obtain a permit for a gun. According to the county attorney's office, Rodrigues agreed not to arrest a man for trespassing on private property if the man would give Rodrigues his pig-hunting rifle.
Rodrigues resigned from the police department in October.
City panel OKs sale of condo fee interest
A measure approving the sale of the fee interest in the Kukui Plaza city condominium moved out of the Council's Budget Committee yesterday, and a vote by the full Council is scheduled for Jan. 26.The city would get a quick $4.5 million cash infusion if the sale is approved. The deal involves selling the fee interest to 908 residential units for between $3,500 and $8,500 each. Also being sold is the fee interest to 44 commercial spaces and about 1,000 parking stalls.
The twin-tower complex was built by the city in the 1970s to help ease the high cost of living in Honolulu.
The lessees have been paying $1 a year each in lease rent.
Corrections
Lizhou Wang, a semifinalist in a scholarships-awards competition sponsored by Intel Corp. and Science Service, is 15. A story in some editions Monday and Tuesday said incorrectly that she was 16.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
FBI nabs suspect in 2 recent bank robberies
A man was arrested and is being held by the FBI today in connection with two recent Oahu bank robberies.The suspect allegedly robbed the Salt Lake American Savings Bank on Dec. 29 and the Kapolei branch of Bank of Hawaii on Jan. 3. He allegedly passed a note ordering the tellers to give him money, police said.
Armed robber sought in Waikiki holdup
Police are searching for an armed man who held up another man in Waikiki last night.A 33-year-old man was walking on Beach Walk Avenue when the suspect told him to stop at 11:50 p.m., police said.
The suspect, described as being in his late teens to early 20s, pulled out a handgun, robbed the man of his wallet and ran toward the ocean, police said.
Pipe bomb blast is Hilo's third in last two weeks
HILO -- A pipe bomb explosion took place Tuesday night in the parking lot at Ken's House of Pancakes, the third such explosion in two weeks, police said.The restaurant reported the explosion at 10:43 p.m. There was no damage.
Police said they don't know whether the incidents are related.
Roadblocks to be set up for King holiday weekend
Police will be setting up drunken-driving checkpoints during the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.The roadblocks will be set up at unannounced times and locations from Jan. 14-18.
