Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News

[THE COURTS]

Oahu gets new chief court administrator

William A. Santos has been appointed chief court administrator for Oahu Circuit Court, Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon has announced.

Santos, who has been serving as deputy chief court administrator since April 2001, will take over the position Jan. 3 when the current administrator, Kenneth Ling, retires.

Santos began working with the state courts as a Family Court probation officer in 1976 and rose through the ranks since.

Santos, who prefers to remain behind the scenes, said he is "very humbled and honored" to be selected for the position. "It's a huge responsibility."

The chief court administrator handles the administrative functions for civil, criminal, family and probation matters, including overseeing budget, fiscal and personnel issues for 1,100 judges and employees.

Waialua man pleads not guilty in rape case

A Waialua man pleaded not guilty in Circuit Court yesterday to raping a prostitute less than two months after he was released from prison in February for beating up another prostitute 10 years ago.

Michael Lee Carter, 36, who entered his plea via video from the Oahu Community Correctional Center, is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

He was indicted Tuesday for first- and third-degree sexual assault and impersonating a police officer in a March 21 incident. He allegedly took a prostitute to a shipyard, raped her and then told her not to call police because he was police. He later told a detective he could not help himself.

[Taking Notice]

» Fifth-grade students at Fort Shafter Elementary School received new American history textbooks during the summer, thanks to a $1,000 grant from the Pearl Harbor Masonic Lodge. The school had not received updated textbooks on the subject for 10 years. The funds will also be used to purchase CDs, tapes and maps.

» The United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii has been given $2,000 from the Junior League. The funds will be used to create a "Little Room" play environment, developed by Dr. Lilli Nielson of the Danish National Institute for the Blind, for toddlers with visual impairments.

» The American Red Cross, Hawaii State Chapter, has received $10,000 from the First Hawaiian Foundation, the charitable arm of First Hawaiian Bank, to assist in providing disaster relief, health and safety education, and emergency communications for the state.

» American Savings Bank has given $20,000 to Child and Family Service for its Mehana Project, a statewide videoconferencing pilot project. The videoconferencing stations, once completed in late 2005, will connect the Ewa Beach Family Center with its other locations on Oahu, Kauai, the Big Island and Maui.

» The Junior League of Honolulu has awarded $5,000 to Hina Mauka to set up a vocational training workroom at its therapeutic community program, Ke Alaula, at the Women's Correctional Center.

Hina Mauka also received $10,000 from the Friends of Hawaii Charities for drug and alcohol addiction treatment at the Institute for Human Services' homeless shelter.

» The MW Group's "Make Your Boss Wash Your Car" fund-raiser at Nimitz Center raised $1,500 for the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific's Louis Vuitton Creative Arts Program.

Top executives who donated their labor included Stephen Metter, Tom Ocasek and Michael Wood of MW Group; Steven Hatayama of Storage Solutions; Glen Kaneshige and Ken Spence of Nordic Construction; Christopher Ulu of Salt Lake Self Storage; and Kitty Lagareta of Communications Pacific.

Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU

Charges sought against man suspected in stabbing

Police were seeking charges against a 19-year-old Waianae man suspected of stabbing another 19-year-old man in the back on Aug. 29 during a brawl involving 12 to 15 people.

During the 1:55 a.m. fight in the 2800 block of Kapiolani Boulevard, the men used bats, knives and other weapons, police said.

The suspects fled the scene when police arrived.

After an investigation, the suspect was identified. He was arrested Sunday on suspicion of first-degree assault. Charges are pending.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Police ask for help in probe of fatal crash

Big Island police are asking for the public's help in gathering more information about a two-car collision that killed a Honaunau man last week.

The victim, identified as Johnnie P. Gouveia, 28, was killed Friday on Hawaii Belt Road near the 72-mile marker in the Kau District. Patrol officers responding to a 6:42 p.m. call determined that Gouveia was driving west when his 1988 Chevrolet Multi-Purpose Vehicle collided head-on with a gray 1986 Toyota two-door sedan traveling in the opposite direction.

Gouveia was taken to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the Toyota, who has not been identified, was also taken to the Kona hospital, where he was listed in critical condition Friday.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.

Anyone with information about the collision or who witnessed it is asked to call officer Eric Cerezo or acting Sgt. Norbert Serrao Jr. of the Traffic Enforcement Unit at 961-2332.

Friday's death was the 31st traffic fatality on the Big Island so far this year, compared with 22 for the same period last year.

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

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Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire [THE COURTS] Oahu gets new chief court administrator William A. Santos has been appointed chief court administrator for Oahu Circuit Court, Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon has announced. Santos, who has been serving as deputy chief court administrator since April 2001, will take over the position Jan. 3 when the current administrator, Kenneth Ling, retires. Santos began working with the state courts as a Family Court probation officer in 1976 and rose through the ranks since. Santos, who prefers to remain behind the scenes, said he is "very humbled and honored" to be selected for the position. "It's a huge responsibility." The chief court administrator handles the administrative functions for civil, criminal, family and probation matters, including overseeing budget, fiscal and personnel issues for 1,100 judges and employees. Waialua man pleads not guilty in rape case A Waialua man pleaded not guilty in Circuit Court yesterday to raping a prostitute less than two months after he was released from prison in February for beating up another prostitute 10 years ago. Michael Lee Carter, 36, who entered his plea via video from the Oahu Community Correctional Center, is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail. He was indicted Tuesday for first- and third-degree sexual assault and impersonating a police officer in a March 21 incident. He allegedly took a prostitute to a shipyard, raped her and then told her not to call police because he was police. He later told a detective he could not help himself. BACK TO TOP \| [Taking Notice] » Fifth-grade students at Fort Shafter Elementary School received new American history textbooks during the summer, thanks to a $1,000 grant from the Pearl Harbor Masonic Lodge. The school had not received updated textbooks on the subject for 10 years. The funds will also be used to purchase CDs, tapes and maps. » The United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii has been given $2,000 from the Junior League. The funds will be used to create a "Little Room" play environment, developed by Dr. Lilli Nielson of the Danish National Institute for the Blind, for toddlers with visual impairments. » The American Red Cross, Hawaii State Chapter, has received $10,000 from the First Hawaiian Foundation, the charitable arm of First Hawaiian Bank, to assist in providing disaster relief, health and safety education, and emergency communications for the state. » American Savings Bank has given $20,000 to Child and Family Service for its Mehana Project, a statewide videoconferencing pilot project. The videoconferencing stations, once completed in late 2005, will connect the Ewa Beach Family Center with its other locations on Oahu, Kauai, the Big Island and Maui. » The Junior League of Honolulu has awarded $5,000 to Hina Mauka to set up a vocational training workroom at its therapeutic community program, Ke Alaula, at the Women's Correctional Center. Hina Mauka also received $10,000 from the Friends of Hawaii Charities for drug and alcohol addiction treatment at the Institute for Human Services' homeless shelter. » The MW Group's "Make Your Boss Wash Your Car" fund-raiser at Nimitz Center raised $1,500 for the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific's Louis Vuitton Creative Arts Program. Top executives who donated their labor included Stephen Metter, Tom Ocasek and Michael Wood of MW Group; Steven Hatayama of Storage Solutions; Glen Kaneshige and Ken Spence of Nordic Construction; Christopher Ulu of Salt Lake Self Storage; and Kitty Lagareta of Communications Pacific. Police, Fire, Courts By Star-Bulletin staff HONOLULU Charges sought against man suspected in stabbing Police were seeking charges against a 19-year-old Waianae man suspected of stabbing another 19-year-old man in the back on Aug. 29 during a brawl involving 12 to 15 people. During the 1:55 a.m. fight in the 2800 block of Kapiolani Boulevard, the men used bats, knives and other weapons, police said. The suspects fled the scene when police arrived. After an investigation, the suspect was identified. He was arrested Sunday on suspicion of first-degree assault. Charges are pending. NEIGHBOR ISLANDS Police ask for help in probe of fatal crash Big Island police are asking for the public's help in gathering more information about a two-car collision that killed a Honaunau man last week. The victim, identified as Johnnie P. Gouveia, 28, was killed Friday on Hawaii Belt Road near the 72-mile marker in the Kau District. Patrol officers responding to a 6:42 p.m. call determined that Gouveia was driving west when his 1988 Chevrolet Multi-Purpose Vehicle collided head-on with a gray 1986 Toyota two-door sedan traveling in the opposite direction. Gouveia was taken to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the Toyota, who has not been identified, was also taken to the Kona hospital, where he was listed in critical condition Friday. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death. Anyone with information about the collision or who witnessed it is asked to call officer Eric Cerezo or acting Sgt. Norbert Serrao Jr. of the Traffic Enforcement Unit at 961-2332. Friday's death was the 31st traffic fatality on the Big Island so far this year, compared with 22 for the same period last year. Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers	— ADVERTISEMENTS — — ADVERTISEMENTS —