Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

IHS issues warning on fake fund raising

The Institute for Human Services is warning the public that it has received reports of at least two individuals going door to door asking for donations on its behalf.

The man and woman have reportedly been canvassing Oahu from Mililani to St. Louis Heights.

Police said if people have been contacted by individuals making such solicitations, they should call police at 911.

IHS, which cares for the homeless, neither raises money door to door nor through phone solicitations. Rather, the organization makes solicitations to the public through direct mailing.

For further information, call IHS at 845-7150.

McKenzie selected as District Court judge

Christopher P. McKenzie has been appointed as District Court judge of the First Judicial Circuit.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon chose McKenzie on Wednesday to fill the position of Russell Blair, who retired in November.

Since July 1995, McKenzie has been a per-diem judge for the District Family Court of the First Circuit.

Before his initial appointment, McKenzie was in private practice, and has extensive experience handling personal-injury cases.

McKenzie, a Punahou alumnus, received his law degree from the University of San Francisco. His appointment is awaiting confirmation by the state Senate.

Cayetano to participate in governors' conference

Gov. Ben Cayetano will be participating in the National Governors Association Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., through Tuesday.

The governors plan to meet with President Bush to discuss homeland security, the fiscal situation of national and state governments, Medicaid, welfare reform and highway funding.

The governors also plan to meet with Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, Attorney General John Ashcroft, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and others.

USS Missouri is closed to visitors this morning

The Battleship Missouri Memorial will be closed to the public for repairs this morning. It will reopen for visitors at 1 p.m., according to the nonprofit USS Missouri Memorial Association.

Isle Navy man charged in sex case

SEATTLE >> A Hawaii-based Navy SEAL accused of trying to get underage girls to pose for sexually explicit photographs has been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor.

Petty Officer 2nd class Lyle Richard Cooper, 42, was arrested after he sent a video camera to an undercover city police officer who pretended to be a 13-year-old girl in an Internet chat room.

Cooper and the detective engaged in several sexually explicit exchanges, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court.

Cooper, who had been assigned to Hawaii, appeared Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Ricardo Martinez in Seattle. His public defender, Paula Deutsch, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

A preliminary hearing was set for Friday.

According to court documents, the FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Services started investigating Cooper after a Bellevue couple told agents in Honolulu that Cooper had been communicating with their 12-year-old daughter over the Internet.

Cooper's family also told agents they were concerned about his previous involvement with young girls.

One relative said Cooper had a 15-year-old girlfriend when he was 36.

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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 Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

WINDWARD OAHU

Boy, 14, is arrested in alleged sex assaults

Police arrested a 14-year-old Hauula boy Thursday after an 8-year-old girl told her teacher that her cousin had assaulted her on several occasions at her former residence.

The teacher called police. Police said the alleged assaults occurred sometime last year.

WAIKIKI

Tip leads to capture of furlough escapee

Waikiki police arrested a wanted fugitive yesterday after receiving an anonymous tip that he was staying at a hotel in the area.

Police said the 22-year-old male suspect escaped from the Laumaka Work Furlough program Jan. 28.

Police picked the suspect up at 7:15 a.m. and arrested him for escape.