[THE COURTS]
Kailua home burglar gets 20-year prison sentence
One of two men accused of breaking into a Kailua home, handcuffing the lone 82-year-old resident and robbing her a year ago was sentenced to 20 years in prison for kidnapping, with three years and four months mandatory because of the victim's age.Circuit Judge Sandra Simms also ordered Evan Lowther, 19, to spend 10 years each in prison for first-degree burglary and second-degree robbery in the same incident.
Lowther apologized to the court yesterday for his actions. He had pleaded guilty to the charges under a plea agreement in March.
Momoye Sakata suffered a broken wrist after she was shoved by the larger of two individuals who broke into her home early on Aug. 21, 2000.
Lowther could have faced a mandatory six years and eight months on the kidnapping charge had he been convicted. But the state agreed not to seek the mandatory minimum in exchange for his testimony against codefendant Kawika Crites-Burgess. Crites-Burgess pleaded guilty to identical charges and is expected to be sentenced Tuesday.
Judge orders Kahapea to repay stolen city funds
Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto has ordered convicted city housing official Michael Kahapea to pay restitution of $866, 275 -- the amount the state had requested he pay back for money he stole from three city projects.The restitution was ordered as part of Kahapea's 10-year sentence after he pleaded guilty to stealing from the city's West Loch and Middle Street relocation projects and coin-operated laundry machines at two city-owned apartments.
Sakamoto also granted the state's request that Kahapea pay 10 percent of his annual prison wages and beginning in January 2008, pay $497 per month -- his total monthly retirement benefits when he turns 65.
Kahapea disputed the state's figures, saying they were "overinflated."
Defense attorney Don Wilkerson said the state has failed to prove the actual costs incurred by the city, and that the court still needs to make a separate determination as to Kahapea's ability to pay.
Deputy Prosecutor Randal Lee said Kahapea was jointly responsible for half of the $710,845 paid in the Middle Street project and half of the $571,031 in the West Loch project, but fully responsible for the $225,337 in laundry money.
Circuit Judge Reynaldo Graulty has yet to rule on the state's request that Kahapea pay restitution of $3.7 million.
Corrections and clarifications
>> The 50th Cherry Blossom Festival pageant is seeking applicants between the ages of 19 and 26. Incorrect ages were published Monday in the Today section's "Scoops" column.
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
Police seek gun owned by suspect in 1975 murder
Honolulu police are asking the public's assistance in locating a stainless steel revolver that may have been used during a murder case 26 years ago. The gun was owned by Delmar Jerome Edmonds Jr. who was charged last month with the March 14, 1975 murder of Dawn "Dede" Bustamante.
According to police Edmonds told investigators that he had owned such a gun back in 1975 but traded the revolver for drugs or other property that same year.
Edmonds, now an Indiana resident, was a Marine stationed at Kaneohe. Police said Bustamante, then 13, was abducted, raped, then shot in the head on a secluded road in Kailua.
Home invasion suspect to be tried as an adult
A juvenile male arrested for robbery, burglary, kidnapping, auto theft and drug and firearms offenses has been charged as an adult.A Family Court judge waived jurisdiction yesterday over 17-year-old James J. Baustista. He and two adult male suspects were arrested in Makakilo on May 29.
Police said the suspects forced their way into the home of a 44-year-old woman, held her in a choke hold and demanded money. The victim managed to break free police said, and ran into her bedroom to call 911.
Police said one of the suspects kicked in her door, forced her to open a house safe then tied her up. All three suspects then fled the scene in the victim's vehicle.
Police arrested one of the suspects in the victim's car and the other two in a nearby vacant townhouse. Police recovered the victim's property as well as a firearm and drugs.
LEEWARD OAHU
Police look for suspect in indecent exposure cases
Honolulu police and CrimeStoppers are looking for a 9-time convicted felon for questioning in two indecent exposure cases. Police said one case involved a 3-year-old boy, and the other case involved a teenage girl.
Police said the man wanted for questioning is 24-year-old Nelson John Abiley, also known as JohnJohn. Abiley already has been convicted of robbery, assault, burglary, abuse of a household member, auto theft, escape and promoting prison contraband, according to HPD.
Police said Abiley is also wanted for two Family Court contempt warrants as well as a felony contempt of court warrant. Police said Abiley frequents the Waipahu and Ewa Beach areas and should not be approached.
Abiley is described as 5-feet-5-inches tall, 200 pounds, has short black hair, brown eyes, a tan complexion, mustache, goatee and multiple tattoos. On Abiley's right arm there are two tattoos, one of the word "Mom" and another of a Hawaiian-style arm band. A tattoo of the word "Dad" is on Abiley's left arm. There are also other tattoos of various designs on Abiley's chest and back.
Anyone with any information about Abiley is asked to call 911 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME from a cellular phone.
