‘Serial rapist’
flees courtJovie Adora has a $1 million
warrant for his arrest after
leaving his court sentencing
An Ewa Beach man whom prosecutors describe as a serial rapist of teenage girls skipped out of his sentencing hearing yesterday, leading a Circuit Court judge to issue a $1 million arrest warrant.
Prosecutors said Jovie Adora, 24, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault and one count of kidnapping and was supposed to be sentenced to 20 years in prison as part of a plea agreement.
However, Adora left the courthouse before the 9:15 a.m. hearing began to seek medical attention, his attorney said.
"I have a doctor's slip confirming his treatment, and I will be submitting that to court," said attorney Keith Shigetomi. "He said he was experiencing dizziness and vomiting."
Adora was waiting outside the courtroom while Deputy Prosecutor Scott Bell, Shigetomi and Judge Faauuga Tootoo discussed the defense's motion to continue the sentencing date. Judge Tootoo denied the motion, and Shigetomi went outside to tell Adora.
Bell said Shigetomi came back into the courtroom about five minutes later and said his client was not outside and that Adora had left a voicemail on his cell phone that he might be having a heart attack and went to a hospital.
"Police have checked the hospitals and he isn't there," said Bell. "We just want him captured and sentenced according to the plea agreement.
"We view him as a serial rapist, a sexual predator."
Adora pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count each of second-degree sexual assault, third-degree sexual assault and kidnapping. His victims included a 13-year-old girl, a 15-year-old girl and two 17-year-old girls.
Police and prosecutors said in the case involving the 15-year-old, Adora sexually assaulted her in a Wahiawa cane field and dragged her back when she attempted to escape. In the case involving the 13-year old girl, Adora fondled her in the front seat of a car, prosecutors said.
The assaults took place between June 2000 and October 2001. Bell said Adora had been in custody until earlier this year when his family posted 10 percent of the $210,000 bail required for his release.
James Lindblad, owner of A-1 Bailbonds, said Adora's family will forfeit that money unless Adora can show some sort of good cause for missing his hearing. Even then there will be a fine for the breach of contract.
"This doesn't happen that often but it does happen," said Lindblad. "Sometimes someone will get cold feet, and then they feel remorseful about it later, especially when they realize they're putting their family's finances in danger."
Judge Tootoo's warrant for Adora's arrest yesterday set bail at $1 million.
Police said Adora has been known to frequent the Kalihi area, has an Ewa Beach residence and should be considered dangerous.
Adora is described as 5 foot 10 inches tall, weighing about 210 pounds, with a medium build, shaved head, brown eyes and a tattoo on his upper left arm that says "PINOY."
He was last seen wearing a red polo shirt and jeans and driving a green 1987 BMW two-door sedan, license plate number GJS-973. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
