DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Miti Maugaotega Jr., center, made his first appearance in court yesterday with his public defender, Carolyn J. Brown, right.
Judge keeps teen
in custodyThe attempted-murder suspect
was under order not to return
to Hawaii until age 18
A 17-year-old burglary suspect accused of shooting a Punchbowl resident last week was put on probation, had been ordered back to American Samoa until he was 18 and told not to return without court approval, prosecutors say.
"It's clear this minor will not follow court orders and the safety of the community is at risk," Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Ching argued yesterday.
Miti Maugaotega, who turns 18 on Sept. 29, returned to Hawaii without court approval and now stands accused of second-degree attempted murder for shooting Punchbowl resident Eric Kawamoto in the chest on Thursday in a botched burglary.
Prosecutors sought to have Maugaotega detained pending a waiver hearing to determine whether he will be tried as an adult.
Senior Family Court Judge Frances Wong granted the state's request yesterday and ordered Maugaotega, who goes by "Junior," held at the Alder Street detention home until a waiver hearing set for Aug. 27.
Carolyn J. Brown, public defender for Maugaotega, did not object to his detention.
Maugaotega has also been charged as a juvenile with burglary, robbery and several firearm and drug offenses.
These offenses, if committed by an adult, are punishable with imprisonment with the possibility of parole, Ching said. Police are also investigating whether Maugaotega was involved in a similar type of burglary at a Kanunu Street apartment building several days before the Punchbowl shooting.
Maugaotega ran into trouble with the law at age 14 and his pattern of behavior has escalated in violence and aggression, Ching said.
At 14, he was arrested for second-degree burglary for entering a painting business and taking a camera. Three months later, at age 15, he was arrested for felony theft for taking a chain and money belonging to a student, Ching said.
Police say he has racked up more than 10 arrests as a juvenile.
Brown said Maugaotega's case should be referred to juvenile drug court. Police said several packets of what appeared to be crystal methamphetamine and a pipe were found on the teen.
In drug court, nonviolent defendants with substance abuse problems undergo an intensive treatment-based program in addition to other services as an alternative to incarceration.
In a related matter, Wong denied a defense request to prohibit parties from commenting on the case publicly, saying it was unreasonable because of the "high profile nature" of the case. But any matters involving Maugaotega that are pending before Family Court remains confidential and is not open to the public, Wong said.
Brown had argued that Maugaotega is likely to face trial and that public comments by police and other parties about matters unrelated to the new charges would be prejudicial to her client and would prevent him from getting a fair trial.
Ching said they are bound by statutory and ethical rules from commenting on juvenile cases.
Star-Bulletin reporter Rod Antone contributed to this report.
