Judge to decide validity of Wong's perjury charges
Circuit Judge Michael Town will decide in about a week whether to dismiss the latest perjury charges against former Bishop Estate trustee Richard "Dickie" Wong.Eric Seitz, attorney for Wong, argued yesterday for a dismissal, saying the court has no jurisdiction because the same charges are currently on appeal before the Hawaii Supreme Court.
The perjury charges stem from statements Wong made to a grand jury about his involvement in a 1995 land deal between Bishop Estate and a partnership that included Wong's brother-in-law.
Man charged with assault on police officer
Honolulu police last night charged Bret Guina, 28, of Salt Lake, with assault and entering a vehicle without authorization for punching a female police officer in the face Wednesday.His bail is $50,000.
Police said the officer was responding to another call at a Waianae address when Guina flagged her down across the street and punched her. He opened the car door and tried to pull the officer out then backed off and walked away.
United flight to Hawaii aborted partway into trip
A United Airlines jet headed to Hawaii returned to San Francisco on Wednesday after a warning light came on, said Andrea Arroyo, spokeswoman for United Airlines.The 767 aircraft, scheduled to arrive in Hawaii at 6:47 p.m. Wednesday (Hawaii time) carrying 244 passengers, was less than halfway to Hawaii when it was turned around to go back to San Francisco, Arroyo said.
The airplane landed at San Francisco Airport at 8:43 p.m. Passengers changed planes and departed at 10:05 p.m., arriving in Hawaii at 12:02 a.m. yesterday.
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
Homeless man finds body in Kapalama Stream
Honolulu police homicide detectives are investigating the discovery of a man's body in Kapalama Stream beneath Nimitz Highway last night. About 7:15 p.m. a homeless man reported finding the body of another homeless man floating face down in the water, police said.The victim had head injuries, police said. Homicide detectives were called because police do not know if the injuries were caused by a fall or by someone else. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death.
Waikiki man arrested in try to pass stolen check
A 23-year-old Waikiki man was arrested Tuesday for forgery after he tried to pay for a taxi ride to Kapolei with a stolen U.S. Treasury check and asked the driver for the balance in cash, police said. The cab driver thought it was suspicious and called police.
Hilo man, 19, dies as racing cars crash
HILO >> A 19-year-old Hilo man was killed early yesterday as two cars that were racing on the outskirts of Hilo crashed, police said. The accident happened at about 12:30 a.m. on Route 11 near Ikaika Street in the Panaewa portion of Hilo.Mahie Blomgren was driving a car that rear-ended a car driven by a 15-year-old, police said. Blomgren's car went off the road and hit a tree, pinning him inside. His passenger, 18-year-old Jason Tanigawa, was thrown from the car. The other car overturned, police said.
Blomgren was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center, where Tanigawa was listed in stable condition. The 15-year-old and a 14-year-old passenger were treated and released.
Police said speed was a factor in the accident.
Missing-jewelry dispute leads to car theft charges
A 29-year-old McCully woman was arrested on auto theft, kidnapping and robbery charges Monday after she allegedly beat another woman after accusing her of stealing her jewelry.The suspect had borrowed the other woman's car and discovered her jewelry missing when she went to retrieve the car after it had been towed.
Police said the woman drove the car's owner to Nanakuli and then back to Honolulu in a failed attempt to get money for the lost jewelry.
Police said the woman then allegedly drove the owner to a bank where the owner gave her $150 after withdrawing $140. Police said the woman drove off after refusing to return the car. She was arrested after the owner called police and gave them the address where the woman had taken the car.
2 students arrested for driving stolen car
Two teenage students at Olomana School were arrested for driving a stolen car after the school's security officer made a check of the vehicle they were operating on campus with police. The boy and girl implicated another teenage boy, whom police had been looking for in connection with the theft of that vehicle and others. Police have yet to locate the third teenager.
Ewa Beach man allegedly beats and stabs victim
Waianae Police Crime Reduction Unit officers arrested a 39-year-old Ewa Beach man Wednesday after he allegedly beat another man with the butt of a shotgun, bricks and pipes and stabbed him with a knife.Police said the victim went to a Fort Weaver Road address Monday morning to pick up a friend to give him a ride. When he arrived, the suspect confronted him with the shotgun, hit him in the face with the butt of the gun and continued to hit the victim with his fists and other objects after they both fell to the ground and struggled. The victim suffered stab wounds to his left arm and lower back, as well as various cuts and bruises.
Man arrested for theft after stolen car stalls out
Police have charged Kyle Douglas, 18, with auto theft after he was arrested early Tuesday in Kalihi when the stolen car he was driving stalled on Houghtailing Street. The car was reported stolen last Saturday from Windward City Shopping Center. Douglas' bail is $18,000.
Former parking officer sorry for stealing fees
A parking control officer was sentenced to five years' probation and 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay $2,000 restitution for stealing parking fees from two state parking garages earlier this year.Richard Berasis, 44, said yesterday he was sorry for his actions and apologized to the state and to the people he had let down, including his family and those who helped him get his job.
His attorney, Guy Matsunaga, characterized his client as a "good guy who made one mistake and owned up to it," and therefore was a perfect candidate for a deferral.
Circuit Judge Richard Perkins granted Berasis' request to defer his guilty plea for the period of his probation.
If Berasis complies with the court's conditions, he will have an opportunity to erase the conviction from his record.
Deputy Attorney General Chris Young had opposed the deferral, saying Berasis violated the public trust by taking about $1,000 a month during a three-month period from the South Street and Makai garage on Halekauwila Street.
Berasis has since lost his state job.
Couple pleads not guilty in welfare fraud case
A couple who ran Teen Challenge, a program to help teens get off drugs and alcohol, pleaded not guilty yesterday in Circuit Court to charges they fraudulently obtained welfare and food stamp benefits.The Rev. John D. Elleson and his wife, Suzanne Elleson, both 39, were indicted May 30 on five counts of second-degree theft and one count of first-degree theft.
Circuit Judge Richard Perkins granted the couple's request, with no objection from the state, to travel to the mainland and return on July 16.
Trial for the Ellesons is set for Aug. 6.
The state contends the couple received public assistance but failed to disclose substantial income. They are also accused of obtaining $74,000 in food stamp benefits through false representations.
The attorney general's investigation stemmed from a complaint by one of their clients who alleged that the Ellesons made him and others apply for public assistance and disability benefits when they turned 18 and then ordered them to turn over electronic benefits cards to the couple. The Ellesons are accused of withdrawing money using their clients' cards.
Suspect in identity theft not allowed to leave state
A former Honolulu man who used multiple Social Security numbers to obtain multiple driver's licenses in at least four states including Hawaii will not be allowed to leave the state pending his trial on second-degree theft charges.Circuit Judge Michael A. Town denied Doug Morgan's request yesterday to return to Missouri so he can be with his family, continue running his commercial construction company and meet his financial obligations.
The court had earlier reduced Morgan's bail to $50,000 but prohibited him from leaving the state without its permission.
Morgan's attorney, Jeff Arakaki, said his client is not a flight risk and wants to resolve his legal matters in both the state and federal courts.
A U.S. magistrate on Tuesday released Morgan on a $25,000 bond based on a report by Pretrial Services who supported his release. The magistrate found there were conditions that could be imposed to ensure he will appear for future hearings in a federal matter involving credit card fraud and not pose a danger to the community.
A Pretrial Services officer in U.S. District Court testified yesterday that she regrettably had not spoken to state prosecutors before recommending Morgan's release. She also did not know Morgan had lied to the court and Missouri's secretary of state by misrepresenting himself.
Deputy Attorney General Rick Damerville argued that Morgan is a flight risk and a danger to the Hawaii and Missouri communities if he is allowed to leave.
Morgan is currently facing state charges that involve conduct similar to that of a 1991 conviction for three counts of first-degree theft and practicing law without a license.
