Charges reduced
in Maui attack

Kyle Scharnhorst was originally
accused of attempted murder

LAHAINA » A judge has reduced the two attempted-murder charges against a Maui resident in a knife attack on two men at the Honokowai Sunrise condominium.

Lahaina District Court Judge Barclay MacDonald reduced the charges yesterday against Kyle Scharnhorst to two counts of second-degree assault and one count of possessing or using a switchblade knife in the commission of a crime.

Scharnhorst's bail was also reduced to $20,000 from $100,000.

His arraignment on the new charges is scheduled for 8 a.m. Sept. 28 in Maui Circuit Court.

MacDonald made the ruling after listening to the two victims recount their stories about the Friday night incident, indicating there was no evidence that Scharnhorst had intended to murder them.

Both injured men, one cut in the forearm and the other stabbed in the upper abdomen, said they were trying to take the knife away from Scharnhorst and couldn't recall when they were injured, Deputy Prosecutor John Tam said.

Tam said the reduction in charges "was appropriate under the circumstances and given the testimony of the victims."