Falls by Hawaii seniors cost $84 million in 2000
The cost of treating 7,600 Hawaii senior citizens who were injured in falls totaled more than $84.5 million last year, according to an American Association of Retired Persons study.Many of the injuries could be prevented by simple, inexpensive home modifications, said Greg Marchildon, AARP state director.
The organization's national study showed 1.7 million emergency room visits by people 65 and older in 2000, resulting in spending by Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance carriers and the injured totaling more than $17 billion.
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Attack on visitor brings 10-year prison term
The second of two men who pleaded guilty to robbing and sexually assaulting a female Japanese visitor after breaking into a Waikiki hotel room was sentenced to a 10-year prison term.Joshua Fields, 22, had pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree robbery, four counts of third-degree sexual assault and two counts of kidnapping in the incident last April.
The state had argued for 15 years because of the multiple offenses and victims involved and the seriousness of the crimes.
Fields had deserted from the military and had some pending matters when he committed the offenses.
Deputy Prosecutor Renee Sonobe-Hong described the acts Fields committed against his 30-year-old victim and those of his co-defendant Chris Linville against the woman's companion as "very violent."
She said the state will ask the Hawaii Paroling Authority that Fields serve the full 10 years.
Deputy Public Defender William Bagasol said the sexual assaults did not involve penetration.
Linville was earlier sentenced and received 15 years' imprisonment.
Court will hear more arguments regarding Kaanapali beach vendors
WAILUKU >> Maui Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza is scheduled to resume a hearing on June 8 that seeks to halt sales by vendors on the beach at Kaanapali.The Kaanapali Beach Resort Association is seeking a preliminary injunction against the vendors and also the state, for allowing vendors to do business on the beach.
The lawsuit names two vendors, Dave Flavin of the Maui Beach Club and John Belles Jr. of Blue Water Surf.
Corrections and clarifications
>> The correct number for the city's household hazardous hotline is 523-4774. A "Kokua Line" item Thursday had an incorrect number.
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. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Alleged scam artist turns self in on Oahu
An alleged scam artist whom Honolulu police were looking for on Maui turned himself in on Oahu this week.Police said Rodney Rodrigues, 51, was on Maui but came back to Oahu while officers were trying to track him down.
Police said Rodrigues sold people "vastly discounted interisland tickets" for cash but never delivered the tickets. According to police, Rodrigues started the scam on Oahu, then later on Maui.
A state grand jury indicted Rodrigues on a charge of theft last month. Rodrigues surrendered to the Department of Public Safety on Wednesday.
Vandals cause $1,500 damage to Kailua school
Joy-riding vandals caused $1,500 damage to a Kailua elementary school, the school's principal said yesterday.Kaelepulu Elementary School Principal Glenn Nakamoto said vandals who used a custodian's golf cart to run over plants in the school courtyard also ran over the sprinkler system.
Nakamoto said repairs will involve retrenching pipes underground. School officials first discovered the damage Thursday, on students' first day back after the teachers strike.
Nakamoto said it looked like the vandals got in through the second floor of "C" building and then made their way into the garden area where they drank beer, sprayed graffiti and ran over plants.
"There's a lot of anger here," said Nakamoto.
Puna man arrested in shooting attempt
Big Island police arrested a 50-year-old Puna man yesterday for attempted murder in a shooting attempt that occurred last Sunday in Pepeekeo, South Hilo.Police said the suspect, Melchor Ventura, was arrested at 9:55 a.m. at his Hawaiian Paradise Park residence for attempted murder. Yesterday evening, Hilo detectives charged Ventura with attempted murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and prohibited ownership of a firearm.
Police believe Ventura to be a suspect in Sunday's attempted-homicide case where a 19-year-old Pepeekeo man escaped injury after he was shot at near the Yoshizawa Store in Pepeekeo.
The victim told police he was shot at by a lone male gunman driving a dark-color, late-1980s model Honda sedan. The victim said the gunman apparently lay in wait for him near the intersection of Kulaimano Road and Hawaii Belt Road on Route 19.
The victim said the gunman shot at him twice, then fled in the car toward Hilo.Ventura is being held in the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $65,000 total bail.
Police seek robber of First Hawaiian Bank
FBI and the Honolulu Police Department are looking for a man who robbed the Pearlridge branch of First Hawaiian Bank yesterday.FBI officials said the suspect entered the branch at 98-1071 Moanalua Rd. at 2:43 p.m., presented a demand note to the teller, then left with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The robber is described as a Caucasian male in his early to mid-30s, about 6 feet tall and weighing between 160 and 180 pounds. He is also described as being clean shaven and having short brown hair.
