Escapee has a
violent historyOne of two inmates who
escaped work furlough once
stabbed a man 14 times
One of the two inmates who escaped from a prison work furlough center Thursday was serving a life prison term with the possibility for parole for stabbing a man 14 times in the back during a crime rampage in downtown Honolulu 10 years ago.
Michael Rosado, whose minimum term for attempted murder ended in February, and the other escapee, 22-year-old Rockford Matsuura, sneaked out of the Laumaka Work Furlough Center apparently after the evening bed count and intended to return before the early morning count, said Oahu Community Correctional Center warden Francis Sequeira.
Despite Rosado's violent crime conviction, Sequeira said he does not consider Rosado or Matsuura dangerous.
Rosado, 28, was admitted into the Laumaka center on April 8, said Sequeira, because he earned it.
"His institutional behavior was positive," he said.
Matsuura was in prison for robbery and auto theft.
On Feb. 1, 1993, Rosado and four other males, ages 17 to 22, had been drinking at Aala Park's tent city for homeless families until police told them to leave the park, according to court records. Three of the males lived in the tent city and another one lived at the Institute for Human Services nearby.
Rosado and two of the other males confronted a man at the bus stop at Hotel and Aala streets. They assaulted the man as he lay on the sidewalk, according to court records. Rosado then stabbed the man in the back repeatedly with a small knife. They took the man's wallet and Sony Walkman.
The group then ran to another bus stop at Bishop and Beretania streets, where the 18-year-old grabbed a briefcase from a woman. One man who confronted the thief was threatened with a knife and another man who chased after them on his bicycle was hit in the head with a rock thrown by the 17-year-old.
Rosado was convicted of attempted murder in May 1994. The following February, the Hawaii Paroling Authority set Rosado's minimum sentence at 10 years before being eligible for parole.
Rosado completed the 10 years on Feb. 3.
By then, he had also completed his sentences for a robbery and three burglary convictions. When he applied for parole in December, the Paroling Authority denied his request and instead recommended him for work furlough, said Tommy Johnson, Hawaii Paroling Authority administrator.