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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Waipahu man cleared on murder charges
A Waipahu man has been acquitted of shooting another man to death New Year's Day 2001 over the alleged theft of a dog kennel.A Circuit Court jury took about five hours to find David Torres, 67, not guilty of second-degree murder on Monday. At Torres' first trial in 2002, the jury was hung 11 to 1 in favor of acquittal but convicted him of a firearms charge.
Prosecutors contended that Torres had killed Pio Ioane, 40, as the culmination of a plan he had hatched in December 2000 because he believed Ioane had stolen his dog kennel.
The defense had argued Torres was simply defending himself against Ioane, whom he believed had a gun and was going to kill him. Torres had confronted Ioane earlier about his dog kennel but Ioane had denied taking it.
"It's a clear-cut case of self-defense and we're grateful the jury diligently arrived at the correct verdict," Deputy Public Defender Todd Eddins said. Torres, who gasped out loud when the verdict was read, thanked the jurors publicly as they were excused and wished them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Deputy Prosecutor Julian White declined comment.
Torres faces a maximum 10 years when sentenced next year on the firearms charge.
Man pleads guilty to identity theft charges
A man wanted in California for failing to pay child support has pleaded guilty to identification theft and other federal charges in Honolulu.Robert E.M. Sohnrey, 49, also known as Edward B. Cook, faces up to 32 years in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Ezra on Oct. 4.
U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo said court documents indicate that Sohnrey was ordered to pay child support during divorce proceedings in Contra Costa County in California in 1993. He said Sohnrey stole the identity of a deceased person and moved to Hawaii to evade the child support payments.
Using his false name, Sohnrey obtained various Hawaii state identification cards and a U.S. passport, and applied for and began receiving Social Security disability payments, Kubo said.
For eight years while living in Honolulu, Sohnrey used his false identity to evade about $195,000 in child support payments, an arrest warrant issued in Imperial County, Calif., and fraudulently received about $70,000 in Social Security disability benefits, Kubo said.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Driver dies after truck runs off Big Isle road
KAILUA-KONA >> A Big Island truck driver died from injuries suffered yesterday when his tractor-trailer truck ran off the steep, winding road between Waimea and Kawaihae in West Hawaii, police said.The victim was identified as Roger Gaspar, 39, of Honaunau, South Kona.
Responding to an 8:42 a.m. call, police determined that Gaspar was driving a 1984 Freightliner downhill when the truck went out of control about three miles above Kawaihae Village. The truck plunged down a 30-foot embankment, police said.
Gaspar was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:58 p.m. His death was the 34th traffic fatality of the year on the Big Island, compared with 27 at the same time last year.
Police allege 3 men had 'ice' and marijuana
HILO >> Big Island police arrested three men Monday for suspicion of possession of a small amount of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," and marijuana.The three, ages 28, 34, and 41, were arrested during the execution of a search warrant on a house in Paradise Park subdivision south of Hilo Monday, police said.
Officers seized 0.6 grams of ice, 6.1 grams of dried marijuana, glass smoking pipes, plastic packets, and rolling papers, police said.
The men were released pending further investigation, police said.
CENTRAL OAHU
HPD seeks suspects in Waipio heist attempt
Police are searching for four men who allegedly tried to rob a Waipio gas station convenience store Monday night.Police said the first suspect, armed with a black handgun, approached the cashier at the Waipio Shell Minimart on 94-609 Ukee St. at about 11:25 p.m.
He demanded the cashier open the front door as he pointed the handgun at her through the sliding tray, police said.
When she refused, two other men tried to force the door open, police said. After that attempt was unsuccessful, the three fled in a white pickup driven by a fourth man, police said.
The four suspects are described as being between 18 and 20 years old. The first suspect is described as 5 feet 4, about 100 pounds. The second and third suspects are described as 5 feet 4 and 5 feet 2 respectively, both about 120 pounds.
The driver was described as 6 feet tall, about 120 pounds.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
