Suspect in assault case
to undergo mental exam

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By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

A man charged with attacking a California high school band director in Kapiolani Park and breaking his ankle last week has been ordered to undergo a mental fitness evaluation.

Dalbert Pagador, 44, appeared in Honolulu District Court yesterday for a preliminary hearing on a second-degree assault charge. But Judge Russel Nagata rescheduled the hearing to April 30 and ordered the evaluation.

Teri Marshall, Pagador's attorney and a deputy public defender who requested the evaluation, said: "My interaction with him led to that (request)."

Marshall would not say what happened when she tried to interview her client.

Pagador has been in Oahu Community Correctional Center's Mental Health Unit since his arrest March 26 in Module 4, where most of the cell rooms have single beds.

Pagador has 16 prior convictions dating to 1984. The crimes include drug promotion, criminal trespass, abuse of a family or household member, disorderly conduct, criminal contempt of court, harassment, criminal property damage and theft -- all misdemeanors.

His sentences ranged from a $25 fine to 30 days confinement.

He was acquitted on two charges of misdemeanor abuse of a family or household member in 1990 due to mental incapacity.

Pagador's latest charge, second-degree assault, is a felony. He remains in custody in lieu of $15,000 bail.

Palmdale High School Associate Music Director Sam Perez said Pagador wrapped both his legs around Perez's right ankle, fell to one side and pushed Perez in the opposite direction, breaking his ankle.

Pagador had been bothering band members earlier in the day, Perez said.

The 32-year-old band director said he confronted Pagador when Pagador began rolling a cigarette apparently containing marijuana in front of one of the students. That is when Pagador attacked him, Perez said.

The Palmdale High School band was in Hawaii last week to participate in a high school band festival.

Perez underwent surgery the next day at Kaiser Medical Center Moanalua Clinic where doctors attached two screws and a metal plate to the inside of his ankle, two screws and a pin to the outside of the ankle and a cast.

Doctors told Perez he would have to undergo a year of therapy after the cast is removed.