Fallen patriots remembered
A POW/MIA Ceremony was held at Punchbowl National Cemetery yesterday to remember all who proudly served their country.The program included a special introduction of former prisoners of war, a presentation of memorial wreaths by Hawaii's veterans organizations, a 21-gun salute by the USMC Artillery Brigade and music by the U.S. Army Band.
In addition to the memorial ceremony at Punchbowl, a distinguished group of ex-prisoners of war and their families will also be touring Hawaii's military facilities and memorials.
Today, the group will present a wreath at the USS Arizona Memorial and will continue on for a special tour of the USS Missouri Memorial.
Hawaii County awarded money to fight crime
The County of Hawaii has been awarded $150,000 from the U.S. Justice Department for fighting crime on the Big Island, U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink said.The grant, awarded under the Community Empowerment Organization program, will be put toward the development of an islandwide council composed of approximately 50 people from local businesses, agencies, community groups, citizens and police, Mink said in a news release.
Termite colonies at zoo not part of the exhibits
The city says the admissions building and gift shop at the Honolulu Zoo will be closed for termite treatment tomorrow and Wednesday.During the closure the zoo entrance will be located at the makai end of the parking lot.
For more information, call zoo Director Ken Redman at 971-7175.
Burglary suspect accused of death threat to woman
Two men are accused of binding and gagging a Kahuku couple Thursday, threatening them with a crowbar and ransacking their home before fleeing in two of the couple's cars. Police say that one of the men warned the wife not to call police."If you tell the cops, we know where you live. We'll come back and kill you," Warren Elicker allegedly told Merta Mita, according to a police affidavit.
Elicker, 23, made his first District Court appearance yesterday after being charged with first-degree robbery, kidnapping, burglary and auto theft in the home invasion.
Mita managed to free herself and her husband, Geoffrey P. Murphy, and called police shortly after she heard the two men leaving.
State parking employee pleads guilty to theft
A state parking employee has pleaded guilty to pocketing about $2,000 in parking fees at the Circuit Court and Halekauwila Street lots over a two-month period.The state is seeking no jail for Richard L. Berasis in exchange for his plea. By law, second-degree theft is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment.
Berasis has agreed to serve 100 hours of community service and pay the state $2,000 in restitution. Berasis will be sentenced June 8.
He is also asking to have his plea deferred, which would enable his conviction to be erased after he successfully completes probation.
The state began investigating after the state parking division noticed a decline in parking revenues in January and February.
Rape, robbery of visitor nets 15-year sentence
A 26-year-old man who broke into a Waikiki hotel room, bound, gagged, robbed and sexually assaulted a female Japanese visitor was sentenced yesterday to 15 years' imprisonment.Circuit Judge Richard Perkins also ordered Chris Linville, 26, to pay $1,000 restitution to his victim, who has since returned to Japan.
Linville choked back tears as he apologized to his 24-year-old victim in court for the "mental and emotional abuse" that he has caused.
But deputy prosecutor Renee Sonobe-Hong asked the court to find that Linville is a "very, very great danger to our community."
She said Linville has shown no remorse and in a statement to the court blamed his victim for "coming on" to him, initiating sex and later setting him up.
According to the state, Linville and a co-defendant burst into the hotel room occupied by two female visitors a year ago. Linville punched one woman in the face, tied, gagged, robbed her and forced her to perform sexual acts.
For Linville to say that she welcomed his acts, "that is absolutely unthinkable and disgusting," Sonobe-Hong said.
In a statement to the court, the victim asked that Linville repay her $400 for the counseling she received and $600 to replace her clothing and belongings. Sonobe-Hong said the victim threw out all her clothing she had at the time "because it was such a horrible experience for her."
Michael Green, attorney for Linville, said yesterday the sentence reached in the agreement was appropriate and that his client truly understands how "horrible" his actions were that day.
Linville apparently had difficulty admitting to his mother, who adored him, what he had done, hence the statement he made to the court, Green said.
Green said he hopes his client, who has a history of drug abuse, will get drug treatment and the education he needs so that at some point he can become a productive citizen.
Five years of Linville's sentence was for his role in an unrelated burglary at Players sports bar that same month and breaking into a car a month earlier. Linville's co-defendant, Joshua Fields, will be sentenced April 27.
Hilo Coast Power Co.'s coal-fired plant on the Big Island has created a 60,000-ton pile of coal ash. A report Saturday gave an incorrect amount. Corrections and clarifications
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Publisher and Editor in Chief John Flanagan at 529-4748 or email him at jflanagan@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Woman dies in collision with garbage truck
An elderly woman died this morning when her vehicle collided with a City and County refuse collection truck at the corner of King and Pumehana streets.Honolulu police shut down four lanes on King Street for several hours after the 5 a.m. crash for their investigation.
Haleiwa auto accident results in driver's death
The Honolulu Medical Examiner identified the man who died in a fatal accident in Haleiwa last night as Derrick Smith, 39, of Waialua.Police say Smith had just exited Weed Circle onto Kaukonahua Rd. when his pickup truck flipped over, throwing him on the roadway and then pinning him at about 6:22 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Speed was a factor in the accident, police said.
Escaped youths returned to correctional facility
Three juvenile males were recaptured yesterday afternoon after they escaped through the gym ceiling of the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility at 42-477 Kalanianaole Hwy. in Kailua.All three had received permission from staff to go to the gym to use the restroom. When they did not return in a timely manner, staff members discovered they had escaped.
One juvenile, 17, was caught at the rear of the facility heading toward the Luana Hills country club at 12:45 p.m. Another was captured at a bus stop at 4 p.m. near Castle High School. The third juvenile, also 17, was captured at 5:30 p.m. at Pohakapu Park. All were returned to the youth facility.
Army burn victims released from hospital
Two Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers were released yesterday from Tripler Army Medical Center after being treated for burns from a downed power line.Pvt. Luis Moran-Nieves, 18, and Pvt. Kacinisau Yalimaiwai, 17, were injured Sunday morning after they finished their physical training exercises near the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade headquarters in Kalaeloa.
The power line was attached to a utility pole that fell after a bus hit it, said Capt. Charles J. Anthony, Hawaii Army National Guard spokesman.
Big Isle cockfight raid results in 5 arrests
KAILUA-KONA >> Police raided a cockfight near South Point on Sunday, arresting five people and seizing $2,018 in cash, they said.Those arrested were released pending further investigation. Police found two injured gamecocks and 17 dead ones at the event attended by about 200 people.
