Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News

Worker's body found on UH campus

Homicide investigators were looking into the death of a University of Hawaii-Manoa maintenance worker last night.

Police said the victim, who was believed to be in his 50s, was found at about 8:15 p.m. behind the Hale Laulima dormitory, which is behind the Center for Korean Studies building on East-West Road.

Ambulance personnel said they pronounced the man dead at 8:47 p.m.

Students at the scene said the victim had been working on a ladder earlier in the day. Police said there was a pool of blood found near the victim and that there was blood on the handle of a hammer nearby.

Police said it appears that the worker fell off his ladder and hit his head on the cement, but then got up only to collapse a few feet away, grabbing his hammer along the way.

Police said an autopsy will be conducted.

Former Aloha Termite manager pleads guilty

A former office manager of a local termite company has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $880,000 from her employer over a 3 1/2-year period.

Joann Rodrigues, 53, who worked for Aloha Termite & Pest Control, admitted yesterday in Circuit Court that she had taken money without authorization. She pleaded guilty to first-degree theft, 13 counts of second-degree forgery and money laundering.

Between September 1999 and March 2003, Rodrigues cashed 190 company checks made out to herself totaling $830,940 and withdrew cash from an automated teller machine totaling $49,237, and used the money for personal use, said Deputy Prosecutor Randal Lee.

Deputy Public Defender Kevin Souza said they dispute the amounts but will argue that issue at sentencing.

Rodrigues faces maximum 10-year terms for the theft and each of the money laundering charges and five years each for the forgeries.

Pearl City library opens after renovations

Pearl City Public Library, closed since Aug. 23 for renovations, will reopen to the public at noon Monday.

Library hours will be:

» Monday and Tuesday, noon to 8 p.m.
» Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
» Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin staff

LEEWARD OAHU

Car crash victim ID'd as Makakilo woman

A woman who died Wednesday after her car was hit by two other vehicles on the H-1 freeway near Makakilo was identified as Jung Jang, 43, of Makakilo.

The accident happened at about 11:36 a.m. Jang was pronounced dead at St. Francis West Medical Center. Two other people injured in the crash were at the Queen's Medical Center in serious condition.

HONOLULU

Man charged in alleged assault on prostitutes

Honolulu police charged a 36-year-old Waialua man with sexually assaulting two prostitutes earlier this year.

Police arrested the man, identified as Michael Carter, at 4:20 a.m. Wednesday on Nuuanu Avenue in downtown Honolulu. The victims, both downtown prostitutes, identified the suspect as the man who allegedly sexually assaulted them, police said. The alleged rapes were March 19 and April 2.

Carter, who has a sexual-assault conviction, was arrested on suspicion of two counts each of sexual assault, kidnapping and impersonating a police officer. He was charged yesterday on two sexual assault counts. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

CENTRAL OAHU

Bank robbery suspect still on the loose

Police are asking for the public's help in solving a Mililani bank robbery from last year.

On July 7, 2003, a suspect walked into the Mililani Town Center American Savings Bank at 95-1249 Meheula Parkway with a T-shirt wrapped around his head and with a gun in his right hand. Police said the suspect demanded money and was last seen running through the Town Center parking lot toward Star Market.

The suspect is described as in his late 20s, 5-foot-5, about 160 pounds, with a heavy build. He was last seen wearing a beige baseball cap on backwards, with a black T-shirt wrapped around his face. He was also wearing a white T-shirt and khaki shorts, and carrying an olive green backpack.

Police said the suspect had an Ace bandage wrapped around his right shin, which they believe may have been hiding a tattoo. Witnesses said the suspect had a silver handgun.

Anyone with information about this case may call Robbery Lt. Ray Quon directly at 692-3006. Anonymous calls may also be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or by dialing *CRIME on a cellular phone.

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

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Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire Worker's body found on UH campus Homicide investigators were looking into the death of a University of Hawaii-Manoa maintenance worker last night. Police said the victim, who was believed to be in his 50s, was found at about 8:15 p.m. behind the Hale Laulima dormitory, which is behind the Center for Korean Studies building on East-West Road. Ambulance personnel said they pronounced the man dead at 8:47 p.m. Students at the scene said the victim had been working on a ladder earlier in the day. Police said there was a pool of blood found near the victim and that there was blood on the handle of a hammer nearby. Police said it appears that the worker fell off his ladder and hit his head on the cement, but then got up only to collapse a few feet away, grabbing his hammer along the way. Police said an autopsy will be conducted. Former Aloha Termite manager pleads guilty A former office manager of a local termite company has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $880,000 from her employer over a 3 1/2-year period. Joann Rodrigues, 53, who worked for Aloha Termite & Pest Control, admitted yesterday in Circuit Court that she had taken money without authorization. She pleaded guilty to first-degree theft, 13 counts of second-degree forgery and money laundering. Between September 1999 and March 2003, Rodrigues cashed 190 company checks made out to herself totaling $830,940 and withdrew cash from an automated teller machine totaling $49,237, and used the money for personal use, said Deputy Prosecutor Randal Lee. Deputy Public Defender Kevin Souza said they dispute the amounts but will argue that issue at sentencing. Rodrigues faces maximum 10-year terms for the theft and each of the money laundering charges and five years each for the forgeries. Pearl City library opens after renovations Pearl City Public Library, closed since Aug. 23 for renovations, will reopen to the public at noon Monday. Library hours will be: » Monday and Tuesday, noon to 8 p.m. » Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. » Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Police, Fire, Courts By Star-Bulletin staff LEEWARD OAHU Car crash victim ID'd as Makakilo woman A woman who died Wednesday after her car was hit by two other vehicles on the H-1 freeway near Makakilo was identified as Jung Jang, 43, of Makakilo. The accident happened at about 11:36 a.m. Jang was pronounced dead at St. Francis West Medical Center. Two other people injured in the crash were at the Queen's Medical Center in serious condition. HONOLULU Man charged in alleged assault on prostitutes Honolulu police charged a 36-year-old Waialua man with sexually assaulting two prostitutes earlier this year. Police arrested the man, identified as Michael Carter, at 4:20 a.m. Wednesday on Nuuanu Avenue in downtown Honolulu. The victims, both downtown prostitutes, identified the suspect as the man who allegedly sexually assaulted them, police said. The alleged rapes were March 19 and April 2. Carter, who has a sexual-assault conviction, was arrested on suspicion of two counts each of sexual assault, kidnapping and impersonating a police officer. He was charged yesterday on two sexual assault counts. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail. CENTRAL OAHU Bank robbery suspect still on the loose Police are asking for the public's help in solving a Mililani bank robbery from last year. On July 7, 2003, a suspect walked into the Mililani Town Center American Savings Bank at 95-1249 Meheula Parkway with a T-shirt wrapped around his head and with a gun in his right hand. Police said the suspect demanded money and was last seen running through the Town Center parking lot toward Star Market. The suspect is described as in his late 20s, 5-foot-5, about 160 pounds, with a heavy build. He was last seen wearing a beige baseball cap on backwards, with a black T-shirt wrapped around his face. He was also wearing a white T-shirt and khaki shorts, and carrying an olive green backpack. Police said the suspect had an Ace bandage wrapped around his right shin, which they believe may have been hiding a tattoo. Witnesses said the suspect had a silver handgun. Anyone with information about this case may call Robbery Lt. Ray Quon directly at 692-3006. Anonymous calls may also be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or by dialing CRIME on a cellular phone. Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers*	— ADVERTISEMENTS — — ADVERTISEMENTS —