Lawmaker arrested
for alleged lewdnessRep. Brian Blundell of Lahaina
is accused of groping a male
HPD undercover officer
A state representative from West Maui allegedly approached a plainclothes police officer outside a Kapiolani Park restroom and groped his crotch, police said.
CORRECTION
Monday, July 19, 2004State Rep. Brian K. Blundell was arrested Thursday night for suspicion of fourth-degree sexual assault. A Page A1 article yesterday omitted the day of the arrest.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.
Rep. Brian K. Blundell (R, Olowalu-Kapalua) was arrested for fourth-degree sexual assault, a misdemeanor offense, for an incident which allegedly took place at 11:15 p.m. across from the Diamond Head Tennis Center, 3908 Paki Ave.
Sources said that when Blundell was arraigned in District Court on Friday morning, he identified himself as a state representative to public defenders.
After the arraignment, Blundell was released and returned to Maui, where he lives in Lahaina.
"There was an incident. I was arrested, and I plan on taking full responsibility," Blundell said in a telephone interview at a news conference called by Hawaii Republican Party Chairman Brennon Morioka.
Republican Party officials said Blundell confirmed to them that he was arrested. "He was arrested, he was arraigned, and he's just going through the process at this point," Morioka said. "I don't have much else to add ... because we want to get all the facts out and know what the truth is."
Police said Blundell was arrested by a Waikiki Crime Reduction Unit undercover officer who was in the area because of complaints about homosexual advances. Blundell approached the officer and groped him, police said.
The fourth-degree sexual assault offense covers exposure, peeping toms and touching private parts over clothing.
Police said that particular restroom, which is known as the "Paki bathrooms," is well-known among officers as one of the places where sexual solicitation happens often late at night.
Yesterday Morioka called a news conference to field questions from reporters about the arrest and whether this changes things for this year's election. The filing deadline for new potential candidates is Tuesday, and Blundell has filed nomination papers for another term.
"Obviously we are going to be concerned about how this affects the election and the filing deadline, but there are more important things to worry about than the election right now," Morioka said. "Our concern right now is for Brian as an individual."
Morioka said Blundell's wife died a few years ago, and "Republicans and his fellow legislators have become his family now, so we just want to make sure he's OK."
Blundell was elected to the state House in 2002, filling the newly created 10th District seat in West Maui after beating attorney James R. Rouse in the general election.
Blundell is also the owner of Central Pacific Marine Inc, a boating equipment and supply company in Lahaina.
James "Kimo" Apana, Maui Democratic Party chairman and former Maui mayor, said he was shocked to learn the news about Blundell, but said the party is not altering its strategy because of his arrest.
"We have candidates that are willing to run, but we were going to wait until the last day to file to announce their names," Apana said. "So we're not changing anything because of this, though I think it'll cause some Republicans to run in his district.
"I wish the best for him. We're hoping that these are (false) allegations because he is an upstanding citizen in Maui County."
This is not the first time a state official has been arrested at public restrooms. In March 1991, Office of Hawaiian Affairs Administrator Clyde Namuo, then a courts administrator, was arrested for open lewdness after exposing himself to an undercover officer. Namuo pled no contest to the petty misdemeanor charge, which was expunged from his record after 60 days probation, a $75 fine and the completion of psychological counseling.
