Murder suspect must
stay with mother
Circuit Judge Michael Town has ordered that murder suspect Ethan Motta, of Hilo, must stay with his mother in Keaukaha while awaiting trial for the Jan. 7 Pali Golf Course shootings.
Town denied a request yesterday by Motta to live with his girlfriend, the mother of his three children, two or three times a week while awaiting trial. Town's decision affirmed his Feb. 12 order that enabled Motta to be released in lieu of $1 million bail provided he live with his mother. Motta, 34, posted the 10 percent, or $100,000, required of the bail bond company.
Motta, Rodney Joseph Jr., 35, and Kevin Gonsalves, 33, face trial in October on first- and second-degree murder charges for the Jan. 7 shootings that left two men dead and a third wounded. Police said the shootings appeared to be related to a turf war between two groups vying to provide security at illegal gambling houses on Oahu.
Joseph and Gonsalves remain in custody without bail.
Deputy Prosecutor Lucianne Khalaf opposed Motta's request, arguing that he was not living with his girlfriend and their children at the time of his arrest. She said the state has legitimate concerns about the safety of the community and the flight risk that Motta poses based on the nature of the charges. Motta also faces additional felony gambling charges on the Big Island for which he was recently indicted.
Khalaf said it is unclear how Motta was able to post bail and put up two homes as collateral given that he is unemployed and has no assets to put up the $100,000. Motta is being represented by the state Public Defender's Office, which represents indigents. She raised questions about the source of the $100,000.
Deputy public defender Todd Eddins said Motta has received an overwhelming amount of support from family and friends in the Keaukaha community "who put their money where their mouth is." He said the state has no evidence the $100,000 Motta posted is tainted money. "The man has a right to post a bond and get out, and he did."