State alleges man, 27, attempted to lure girl
An Oahu grand jury has indicted a Honolulu man for allegedly using the Internet to try and lure a 13-year-old girl for sex, state Attorney General Mark Bennett said yesterday.Grant N. Detwiler, 27, is the state's first suspect to be indicted for first-degree electronic enticement of a child, a law created by the 2002 state Legislature, authorities said.
Three men have been previously arrested for the same felony offense but were released without charges, pending further investigation, the Attorney General's Office said.
Detwiler allegedly used a computer to arrange a meeting for sexual activity with a person represented to him to be a 13-year-old girl. He was arrested by police and state officers when he arrived at the meeting place, the indictment said.
The offense carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
Downed power lines divert N. Kona traffic
KAILUA-KONA >> Two poles supporting power transmission lines fell across the Mamalahoa Highway near Puuanahulu, about 30 miles north of Kailua-Kona, at 1:31 p.m. yesterday, the Hawaii Electric Light Co. said."It was windy out there," said HELCO spokesman Jay Ignacio regarding a possible cause. "We're looking at possible damage to the poles, cracks or rot."
The highway was expected to be closed until about 9 p.m., Ignacio said. Police rerouted traffic through Waikoloa village.
Power to 2,600 customers in North Kona was out for a little more than an hour until HELCO switched power flow to alternate routes, Ignacio said.
MAINLAND
Dell commercial actor faces marijuana charge
NEW YORK >> When he is selling Dell computers on television, he calls everyone "dude." But yesterday, he was calling a judge "ma'am."
Benjamin
Curtis
After a night in jail, Benjamin Curtis, 22, who plays Steven, the Dell dude, faced a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession. He was arrested Sunday after police said he bought marijuana on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
At his arraignment, the judge told Curtis that if he did not get arrested again in the next year, the case could be dismissed and he could avoid a record.
Anthrax letter hoax brings 30-month term
SCRANTON, Pa. >> A woman who participated in mailing 17 anthrax hoax letters was sentenced yesterday to 30 months in prison, officials said.The letters containing a white, powdery substance were mailed to local, state and federal officials at the height of the anthrax scare in fall 2001, authorities said.
Rosemary Zavrel, 59, and Emily Forman, 27, mailed the letters and used two juveniles' names as the senders, seeking revenge for threats against Zavrel's son, officials said.
Cuba promises to buy food from Alabama
HAVANA >> Cuba's food import company pledged to buy $10 million in agricultural products from Alabama in a move to revive historic trade ties with the Southern state, members of a delegation said yesterday.Alabama Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley said that Pedro Alvarez, of Alimport, asked has the delegation to work with Alabama producers in drawing up a list of farm products.
Under an exception to U.S. trade sanctions against the communist-run island, producers of American farm products may now sell to Cuba on a cash-only basis.
Feds decline to include spotted owl under act
SACRAMENTO, Calif. >> The government decided yesterday that the California spotted owl, a symbol in the battle over logging of old-growth Western forests, does not need immediate protection under the Endangered Species Act.The decision by the Fish and Wildlife Service relies in part on owl protection plans contained in a Clinton administration document. The Forest Service says those plans will likely be substantially altered by the Bush administration, including allowing increased timber harvesting that will lessen the risk of habitat-destroying wildfires.
ASIA & THE PACIFIC
Philippine troops fight large guerrilla force
COTABATO, Philippines >> Fierce fighting erupted today between troops and a large Muslim rebel force allegedly planning to launch retaliatory strikes if the United States goes to war against Iraq.There were no immediate reports of casualties in the clashes around a village in Cotabato province, where 3,000 soldiers were confronting some 1,000 guerrillas from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and allied groups.
Peace negotiator killed in Solomon Islands
HONIARA, Solomon Islands >> A key peace negotiator in the strife-torn Solomon Islands has been killed, dealing the peace process a further blow, the government said today.Sir Fredrick Soaki, a member of the National Peace Council, was shot dead at point-blank range last night as he sat in the dining room of a motel in Malaita province. Police said they had no suspects.
The Solomons is on the brink of becoming a failed state after several years of fighting between ethnic militias over land in the capital, Honiara.
[ TAKING NOTICE ]
The Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Alexander & Baldwin Foundation for the renovation of its statewide headquarters on Diamond Head Road.
>> Read Aloud America, a family literacy program, has received $8,000 from the McInerny Foundation, $9,750 from the G.N. Wilcox Trust and $1,000 from Hawaiian Electric Co.
>> Benjamin Johnson, of Hilo High School, and Chase Lee, of McKinley High, have been appointed delegates to the 41st Annual United States Senate Youth Program in Washington, D.C. They will participate in an intensive study of the federal government and the Senate. Both youths won $5,000 college scholarships and free trips to Washington. Corey Johnson, of Hilo High, and Andrew Savini, of Kahuku High, were chosen as alternates.
>> Bruce Pfirrmann, of Our Savior Lutheran School, is the Hawaii state champion of the First Annual Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge. He will represent the state at the national finals in March at Colonial Williamsburg, Va. His classmate Robert Protzman took second place, and Blake Tolentino, of St. John Vianney's School, finished third.
>> La Pietra-Hawaii School for Girls students Courtney Gaddis, Sara Mason, Azzura Alliata and Emily Makini won awards at the national Scholastic Art and Photography Competition.
>> Edison H. Miyawaki and Haigo T.H. Shen have been elected co-chairmen of the East-West Center Foundation board of directors. Miyawaki is chairman, president and CEO of Family Health Inc. and co-owner of the NFL Cincinnati Bengals. Shen is of Haigo Shen & Partners, Architects & Engineers.
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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 staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
WAIKIKI
Pawaa man charged with attempted murder
Police charged a 21-year-old Pawaa man with attempted murder, reckless endangering and a firearms violation yesterday in connection with a shooting in Waikiki last month.Police said Tommy Jenkins and a 31-year-old man were walking along Ala Moana near Hobron Lane on Jan. 30 when they got into an argument.
Jenkins then pulled out a handgun and fired a shot at the other man, police said.
The shot missed the man but hit a rental van stopped at a traffic light. No one in the van was injured.
Both Jenkins and his intended victim fled, police said. Police arrested Jenkins on Saturday in Waikiki. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Neighbor IslandsKona home fire causes $300,000 in damage
Fire damaged a home on Kaiminani Drive in Kona yesterday.The fire was reported at 11:12 a.m. and caused an estimated $300,000 in damage to the house and its contents, officials said.
A 57-year-old woman suffered smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials said there were no immediate indications of foul play.
Maui man still critical after being hit by van
WAILUKU >> A 50-year-old man who was struck by a van in Kahului remained in critical condition last night at Maui Memorial Medical Center.Maui traffic investigator Ericlee Correa said the man was in a crosswalk when he was struck by the van traveling southeast on Puunene Avenue near the American Savings Bank about 7:30 Sunday night.
Police Lt. Charles Hirata said the incident was under investigation. Hirata said alcohol consumption and speeding do not appear to have been factors in the incident.
LEEWARD OAHU
Missing 11-year-old girl found in Waianae
Honolulu police have located a 11-year-old girl who was reported missing last year.Elena Carvalho was found Friday in Waianae. She had been taken out of a foster home in Kapolei on Aug. 26.
Police arrested Carvalho's biological mother, Brandi Vierra, on Saturday in Ewa Beach for an outstanding family court warrant.
HONOLULU
2 fugitives arrested on federal warrants
Two fugitives in separate federal criminal cases have been arrested.Christina "Tina" McNeal was arrested yesterday along Waipahu Depot Road. During the arrest, officers recovered a stolen 2002 Dodge Intrepid vehicle, valued at $20,000, police said.
She was wanted by the U.S. Secret Service for two forgery warrants, a traffic warrant and also for questioning in an identity theft investigation.
Ian Enitan turned himself in at the front gate of Pearl Harbor Naval Base at 1 p.m. yesterday, officials said. He said he heard he had been profiled as a fugitive.
Last week, police said Enitan was wanted on a federal warrant for terroristic threatening and for questioning for drug and firearms violations.
