A former food service worker at the Honolulu Police Department's Central Receiving desk pleaded guilty today to second-degree theft for ordering food that was not being used to feed prisoners, but police officers. Civilian employee pleads
guilty in police food theftErnest Villanueva, 47, a civilian with the department for nine years, admitted he did so at the request of supervisors, then Major Rafael Fajardo and Lt. Jeffrey Owens, who were in charge of the receiving division at the main police cellblock between 1995 and 2000.
He is charged in connection with the scheme in which funds intended for prepackaged meals for prisoners were misappropriated to purchase food, including rack of lamb, prime rib and breakfast items, for police officers and higher-ups.
Fajardo, now an assistant chief and Owens, major of the traffic division, are the department's highest ranking officials to be indicted in connection with the scheme.
Under a plea agreement, if Villanueva cooperates fully and testifies truthfully at the upcoming trial of Fajardo and Owens, he could be sentenced to a period similar to probation and receive a deferral of his guilty plea -- meaning the conviction could be removed from his record. Second-degree theft is punishable by a maximum five years imprisonment.
Villanueva will also be ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined later. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24.
Owens and Fajardo are expected to go to trial in March.
Senate confirms Kubo as Hawaii's U.S. attorney
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward H. Kubo Jr. could be Hawaii's top federal prosecutor by year's end.The U.S. Senate confirmed Kubo's nomination as U.S. attorney on Friday, said state Rep. Barbara Marumoto (R, Kahala), chairwoman of the Bush presidential campaign, who was in Washington, D.C., last week and spoke to Kubo yesterday.
President Bush has yet to sign the confirmation, although it is only a formality because Kubo was one of more than a dozen U.S. attorneys nominated by the president in September, she said.
After Bush signs the confirmation, Kubo, 48, is expected to participate in swearing-in ceremonies in Washington and Honolulu.
He could not be reached for comment.
Kubo, a 1971 Waipahu High School graduate, has been a prosecutor since 1980, except for three years in private practice.
He was a deputy prosecutor with the city from 1980 to 1983 and then from 1985 to 1990. In 1990 he joined the U.S. attorney's office.
Beach traffic damaging Maui archaeological sites
WAILUKU >> A nonprofit group is holding a public meeting tomorrow to discuss taking emergency measures to protect damaged archaeological sites at the state’s La Perouse Bay in South Maui.The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Maui Waena Intermediate School cafeteria in Kahului.
Vehicles have been driving over the mauka edge of the Pa‘alua Heiau to gain beach access to the shoreline and also damaging archaeological sites south along a loop trail, according to Maui Malama Pono, a volunteer group of citizens and state officials.
The plan is to place boulders along trails to prevent further harm to the archaeological sites, in addition to cleaning the area Monday and next Tuesday.
For more information, call state archaeologist Melissa Kirkendall at 808-243-5169 or federal official Helen Felsing, 242-6711.
>> The YMCA of Honolulu Metropolitan Office recently announced new officers at the following YMCA Men's Clubs: Reggie Takaki, president, Central YMCA; Richard Lau, vice president, Central YMCA; Debbie Kim, secretary, Central YMCA; Kenneth Sakai, treasurer, Central YMCA; Masayo Nakagawa, president, Kaimuki YMCA; Bob Martin, vice president, Kaimuki YMCA; Renee Horiuchi, secretary, Kaimuki YMCA; Ray Seto, treasurer, Kaimuki YMCA; Phil Chun, president, Kalihi YMCA; Sunny Young, vice president, Kalihi YMCA; Eddie Miwa, secretary, Kalihi YMCA; Wayne Kim, Kalihi YMCA; Naomi Aimoto, Nuuanu YMCA; Larry Hiranaka, vice president, Nuuanu YMCA; Peter Bower, secretary, Nuuanu YMCA; Stephen Wong, treasurer, Nuuanu YMCA; Duke Chung, West Oahu YMCA; Walter Osakoda, West Oahu YMCA; Linda Chung, secretary, West Oahu YMCA; Kathy Ishimoto, treasurer, West Oahu YMCA; Miles Jackson, president, Windward YMCA; Joe-Ann McCarthy, vice president/ secretary, Windward YMCA; and James Kanehira, treasurer, Windward YMCA. The officers were installed during a dinner held Sept. 12.>> Davin Kane has been named an Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council. Kane, who became an Eagle Scout on March 28, is a member of Troop 74 in Kailua.
>> Hawaii state Rep. Barbara Marumoto was installed as president of the Women's Legislative Network of the National Conference of State Legislatures last month in San Antonio. Marumoto will head the organization, which promotes the participation, empowerment and leadership of women legislators. She joins state Rep. Cynthia Thielen and state Sen. Suzanne Chun-Oakland in leadership positions within the network.
>> Lanakila Rehabilitation Center Inc., also known as Lanakila Crafts, has been awarded a $45,000 grant by Philip Morris Cos. Inc. The grant was awarded through the Philip Morris Senior Helpings Program, and will allow the center to purchase a delivery vehicle and 100 additional weekend meals for the Lanakila Meals on Wheels service. Philip Morris presented a check to Lanakila Rehabilitation Center in August.
>> Hawaii Community Health Service has been awarded a one-year accreditation from the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission for its Assertive Community Treatment, Case Management, Children and Adolescent Crisis Intervention, Community Housing and Crisis Stabilization and Intervention programs. The one-year accreditation is the first of its type awarded to HCHS.
>> USA Funds has announced that the following students will receive scholarship awards for the 2001-2002 academic year: Eva F. Buthung, Christina G. Fillmed, Kimberly A. Ishii, Rachel L. Loo, Anika M. Renaud-Kim, Kami P. Yang, Holeilehua K. Caris, Micah N. Silva-Frank, Grace Y. Chang, Pauahi K. Nahoi, Sonia Wah Yick and Railyne San Nicolas. Buthung, Fillmed, Ishii, Loo, Renaud-Kim and Yang are students at UH-Hilo. Caris and Silva-Frank attend Maui Community College. Chang, Nahoi and Wah Yick are students at Honolulu Community College. Nicolas attends Leeward Community College. The students were selected based on academic performance, leadership potential, participation in school and community activities, and financial need. Each will receive $1,500 toward higher-education expenses.
>> Nguyet T. "Nikki" Nguyen has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship by USA Funds and USA Education Inc. Nguyen, a graduate of Farrington High School, will use the money to atend Babson College (Mass.). She is a resident of Honolulu.
>> Read Aloud America has received $8,000 from the McInerney Foundation to help expand the program to a new school site in 2002.
>> Oahu Math League results for Meet 2 on Nov. 10 at Radford High School: A Division: Iolani, first, Punahou, second, McKinley High, third, Kamehameha Schools, fourth, and Roosevelt High, fifth. B Division: Hanalani School, first, Sacred Hearts, second, and Molokai High, third. JV Division: Iolani, first, Kamehameha, second, and McKinley High, third.
Perfect scorers: Stephany Ho, Hanalani; Cameron Taketa, Hawaii Baptist Academy; Matthew Ardo, Elizabeth Au, Jared Bulosan, Ryan Lau, Kelly Nakamura, Ricky Nguyen, Carol Pham and Anne Yeung, all of Iolani; Lu Lu and James Park, both of McKinley High; and Jenny Chan and Nyssa Thompson, both of Punahou.
>> Goodwill Industries of Hawaii has been awarded $25,000 by the Atherton Family Foundation for the enhanced safety and health program for employees. Jim Grymes will oversee the program to provided enhanced training and ensure property safety practices in the workplace.
>> Moiliili Community Center has received $65,911 in grants: $21,000 from the McInerney Foundation, $21,000 from the Frear Eleemosynary Trust for a new school bus, $10,000 from the Hawaii Community Foundation for the Neighbor to Neighbor project, $10,000 from the Kosasa Foundation, $911 from the Foodland "Give Aloha" campaign, and $3,000 from the Hawaii Hotel Association and Hotel Industry Foundation for Elder Care Services.
>> Fresh Start Inc. has received a $15,000 grant from the McInerney Foundation. Fresh Start helps recovering alcoholic, drug-addicted, ex-offender and homeless people by providing long-term, affordable housing while teaching life and educational skills.
>> Marc Resorts Hawaii has donated $4,558 to the Hawaii Community Foundation for the September 11th Fund. Marc Resorts matched each dollar donated by employees in a two-week drive.
>> The Hawaii Library Foundation has new officers for 2001-02: Nathan Y. Yoshioka, president, also president of the Pro-Am Golf Shop; Michael Y. Nakahara, vice president, also president of Allied Builders System; Sally Harper, secretary, also a retired Punahou School teacher; and Allen T. Yasue, treasurer, also a partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
>> Outback Steakhouse in Hawaii has raised more than $60,000 to support victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. Outback contributed 100 percent of the evening's proceeds on Oct. 11, the recent "Dine Out for America" fund-raiser.
>> Seventh-grader Genice Yamamoto has received the Helen McKenzie Merit Scholarship of $1,000 for the 2001-02 school year at Kaimuki Christian School. Genice is also student council secretary.
>> The Moanalua Gardens Foundation has been awarded $10,000 in grants. G.N. Wilcox Trust gave $5,000 for the Forest Treasures workshop on Kauai, and Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation granted $5,000 for the Partners in Education Program.
>> Goodwill Industries has received $5,000 from Kmart toward the build-out costs of the Island Career Center, 1075 S. Beretania St. The site will be transformed into a job training and placement center.
>> St. Francis High School has appointed the following new members of its board of directors: Stephen M. Teves, an attorney with Case Bigelow and Lombardi; Carl E. Choy, senior vice president and financial adviser at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter; Niki van Den Hurk, finance director at Aloha Hyundai; and Kim Cummings, senior agency field consultant for State Farm Insurance.
>> Debbie Kim Morikawa has been named vice president of programs for Lanakila Rehabilitation Center. She was recently a management consultant specializing in organizational development, human resources and special projects.
>> The Hawaii Chinese Association and the Taiwanese Association of Hawaii have raised more than $20,000 for the World Trade Center Disaster Fund.
>> Jenny Joao of Kailua attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on Defense, Intelligence and Diplomacy in Washington, D.C.
>> Timothy Goshi, a junior at the University of Hawaii College of Engineering, has been awarded the 2001-2003 Eric N. Jacobsen Memorial Scholarship from Bonded Materials Co. Goshi receives two years' undergraduate tuition and a paid internship with Bonded Materials during summer 2002. The scholarship is awarded in memory of Erick Jacobsen, product manager of Bonded Materials, who died in 1996. The scholarship is intended to encourage and reward community involvement and academic excellence by engineering students.
>> Jonathon Berliner, executive director at the Maui AIDS Foundation, has been selected to participate in the Center for Disease Control's external review of HIV prevention applications. He will travel to Atlanta to serve as a member of the CDC review team. Berliner was selected from a pool of several hundred applicants.
>> The Prince Kuhio Hawaii Civic Club has awarded $1,000 scholarships to the following students: Edward Akana, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Robyn Bachini, University of California-Santa Barbara; Jared Chun, UH-Manoa; Tiffany Coelho, UH-Manoa; Channa Dudoit, UH-Manoa; Darlaine Dudoit, UH-Manoa; Kimo Jarret, UH-Manoa; Natalie Ho, UH-Manoa; Tiare Larsen, Univeristy of North Dakota; Prudence H. Gormley, University of Hawaii at Hilo; Harriet Juarez, UH-Manoa; Montique Kalilikane, Hawaii Pacific University; Kaoi Lundin, Evergreen State College (Wash.); Shaun Kaanoi, Hanover College (Ind.); Megan Naumu, Brigham Young University-Hawaii; Shanelle Sanborn, UH-Manoa; Leila Sanchez Albijino, HPU; Pristine Torres, University of Nevada-Las Vegas; and Sheri Yamaguchi, HPU. Kaui Chung, a student at Kapiolani Community College, was awarded a $500 scholarship. In addition to the $21,500 awarded to students, the civic club also awarded $2,000 to the four Punana Leo Hawaiian Language Immersion Schools on Oahu. The money was raised through Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club sales of Moon Calendars and an annual fund-raising luncheon held in August.
>> The Hawaii State Department of Education recently honored the following individuals as District Teachers of the Year: Leah L. Aiwohi, Kamakahelei Middle School, Kauai District; Lani A. Chang, Waiahole Elementary, Windward District; Aileen Dang, Kalakaua Middle School, Honolulu District; Jill Hirota, Waialua Elementary, Central District; Helen Kobayashi, Waiakea High, Hawaii District; Janet Sato, Baldwin High, Maui District; and Linda C. Uehara, Kapolei Middle School, Leeward District. The seven teachers will receive use of an automobile for a year from the Hawaii Auto Dealers Association. They were also recognized during a luncheon held Oct. 5.
>> Nike Inc. has raised $45,000 to fund new playground equipment at Oahu schools through the annual Niketown 5 race held Oct. 7. Of all participating schools, Ma'ema'e Elementary School raised the most money ($5,000) for the second year in a row. Rich Rogers and Katherine Nichols were the first-place male and female race finishers. They each received a $300 Niketown gift certificate.
>> Longs Drugs has awarded the American Lung Association of Hawaii $37,500 as premier corporate sponsor of the 2001-2002 Open Airways for Schools Asthma Education Program. Longs' corporate sponsorship allows the ALAH to offer the OAS program to 50 public and private schools statewide for the coming school year.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Kona woman dies after being hit by police car
KAILUA-KONA >> A 66-year-old Kona woman died from injuries suffered when she was struck by a police car while crossing Mamalahoa Highway on her way to church Sunday evening.Police said Gabina Makil of Captain Cook was crossing the highway in a marked crosswalk in front of the Central Kona Union Church in Kealakekua about 6:20 p.m. when she was struck by a marked police vehicle. The vehicle was driven by on-duty patrol officer Calvin Sasaki. Makil was taken to Kona community hospital for treatment then later flown to Queen's Medical Center where she died yesterday.
There is no traffic light or intersection at the crosswalk. Kona police said the church usually has crossing guards to assist people crossing the street from the parking lot to the chapel for morning services but not for evening services.
Big Island police have initiated a negligent homicide investigation into the accident.
Bail set for suspect in Maui bank robbery
WAILUKU >> A 22-year-old Kihei man was scheduled to appear tomorrow at a preliminary hearing in the robbery of First Hawaiian Bank in Kahului.Bail for Anthony J. Dietro, also known as Anthony J. Detro, was set at $50,000 after he appeared yesterday in Wailuku District Court on a second-degree robbery charge.
Dietro was arrested Saturday as his vehicle was stuck in traffic at Kaahumanu Avenue and Kahului Beach Road, two blocks from the bank. Authorities said the robber wore a gray-hooded sweatshirt.
Police detectives were still investigating robberies of a bank in Kihei and Foodland Super Market in Kahului last Tuesday. In each a robber used a hood of a jacket or sweatshirt to conceal himself.
Maui crash fatality wasn't wearing seatbelt
WAILUKU >> A 55-year-old Maui man who died following a two-vehicle collision in Haiku probably would have survived the crash if he had been wearing a seat belt, police Lt. Charles Hirata said.Hirata said Douglas Rothaus of Haiku had a broken seat belt with no latch and was ejected from the vehicle.
Two women who were in the other vehicle and wore seat belts survived the crash. Rothaus was traveling southeast on Haiku Road when his car crossed the center line and collided with a van about a half-mile southwest of East Kuiaha Road, Hirata said.
Rothaus died late Sunday night.
Big Isle police warn of fund-raising scam
HILO >> The Hawaii County Police Department is warning Big Island residents, especially senior citizens, to be on the lookout for people representing themselves as part of a police fund-raising organization."The Hawaii County Police Department does not raise funds," Sgt. Randy Apele said. "It is against regulations for our members to solicit money or gratuities."
HONOLULU
Girl arrested for alleged phone threat to teacher
A 13-year-old girl was arrested for terroristic threatening yesterday after her special-education teacher recognized the girl's voice on a message left on the teacher's telephone-answering service.Police said that at about 7:30 a.m. the Kalakaua Middle School teacher checked her voice mail, which contained a threatening message.
Using caller ID, the teacher dialed the telephone number from which the call was made, police said, and discovered it was the home of one of her special-education students.
The teacher identified the student's voice to police, who arrested the girl, then released her pending investigation.
Woman sought in sex assault on children
Police are looking for a 21-year-old homeless woman for allegedly sexually assaulting two boys ages 3 and 5 on Nov. 30 in the Pearl Harbor area.Police said the woman is a friend of the boys' family and offered to watch them for their mother. The mother later reported that her sons had been beaten and sexually assaulted by the woman.
3 men caught taking wheels from stolen car
Three men were arrested Sunday after they were caught removing wheels from a stolen car. Officers were called to the corner of Ahe Place and Ahe Street in Palolo, arriving about 12:45 a.m. to find two men taking the wheels off one car and a third man putting them on another. A check of license plates revealed that the first car was stolen.All three men were arrested for theft; one also was arrested for auto theft and another on drug charges.
