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Navy couple indicted
on robbery charges

Star-Bulletin staff

An Oahu grand jury has indicted a Navy man and his wife on charges of robbing a 69-year-old woman at gunpoint of $15,000 worth of cash and jewelry at her Waikiki apartment last month.

Christopher Choate and his wife, Junko Choate, also known as Junko Tia Faumuina, both 24, yesterday were charged with first-degree robbery, kidnapping and first-degree attempted extortion in the May 28 incident.

Police say Choate identified himself as a delivery man to gain access to her Wailana condominium. Once in, the couple allegedly tied her up and robbed her. Choate was allegedly identified through surveillance cameras.

The couple also attempted to extort money from the woman on June 2.

Faumuina is also charged with first-degree hindering prosecution for failing to disclose where her husband might be. She turned herself in to police after seeing her name in a CrimeStoppers bulletin. Choate was later arrested June 8 near Crosspointe in Halawa.

Choate, a sailor assigned to the USS Cheyenne submarine, deserted on May 30, two days after the alleged robbery.