Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News

Man pleads no contest in Pro Bowl ticket case

The former head of a local ticket agency pleaded no contest to first-degree theft yesterday in connection with roughly half a million dollars allegedly owed to the National Football League for sales and sponsorship money from the 2003 Pro Bowl.

Manny Sanchez, former chief executive officer of Ticket Plus Inc., entered his plea before state Circuit Judge Richard Pollack. Pollack has set a Feb. 22 sentencing date.

The NFL sued Sanchez and the company in September 2003, alleging it was owed $474,604 for Pro Bowl tickets sold by the company and a $100,000 event sponsorship fee for the 2003 game.

In August 2003, Sanchez said he made one payment of $100,000 to the NFL and was seeking a loan to pay the rest of the amount.

Los Angeles-based Ticketmaster, the worldwide ticketing agency, purchased Ticket Plus Inc. in March 2003, but Ticketmaster was not named in the suit. Sanchez has since left the company.

Meetings to discuss Maui bus transit plan

WAILUKU » Maui County will hold meetings to develop a five-year bus transit plan on the Valley Isle, including the possibility of instituting a transit service between Central and South Maui.

The meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. today at the Kihei Community Center, tomorrow at the Lahaina Civic Center, Thursday at the Kahului Community Center and Friday at the Kula Community Center.

Activities across state mark World AIDS Day

The state Department of Health has helped organize several activities tomorrow in observance of World AIDS Day.

Kapiolani Community College will have information tables in the cafeteria from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Speakers will be in the cafeteria from noon to 1 p.m.

Stories about women around the world who have dedicated their lives to fighting AIDS will be told at St. Andrew's Cathedral. The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the church's Queen Emma Square. Free parking is available in the church lot.

The African American Education Cultural Center Hawaii will also present a talk on the AIDS epidemic among African Americans from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Blaisdell Center's Oahu Room. RSVP at 523-7406 or 597-1341.

On the Big Island, there will be an interfaith candlelight ceremony at Hulihee Palace in Kona. On Maui a ceremony in remembrance of AIDS victims is scheduled to be held at Trinity by the Sea Episcopal Church in Kihei from 6 to 7 p.m.

For more information, call Nancy Kern at the state Department of Health at 733-9281.

Aquarium sets holiday hours

The Waikiki Aquarium will have special holiday hours. The schedule follows:

» Christmas Eve, Dec. 24: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
» Christmas Day, Dec. 25: closed
» New Year's Eve, Dec. 31: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
» New Year's Day, Jan. 1: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Admission is $9 for visitors; $6 for local residents, active-duty military with ID, students with ID and seniors; $4 for those 13 through 17; $2 for juniors 5 through 12 and those with disabilities; free for children 4 and under. For more information, call 923-9741 or visit go online at www.waquarium.org .

[ TAKING NOTICE ]

» Dell Inc. has awarded $10,000 to 20 organizations throughout the nation to organize a free "No Computer Should Go to Waste" collection event in their community. Recipients included the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management in Kailua-Kona.

» Hawaii 3 R's (Repair, Remodel and Restore Hawaii's public schools) has awarded grants to five public schools statewide to help them complete more than $335,000 million in repairs. The schools are Lahaina Intermediate, Lahainaluna High, Maui High, Mauka Lani Elementary and Pearl City Highlands Elementary.

Hawaii 3 R's has received funding from the state and federal governments and the Hawaii Community Foundation, Campbell Estate, James and Abigail Campbell Foundation, AT&T Foundation and Harold K.L. Castle Foundation.

» The Arthritis Foundation has received $10,000 from the Building Industry Labor Association of Hawaii for a third year to support programs for children afflicted with the disease. The grant provides an arthritis camp for children and a juvenile arthritis conference every year.

The foundation also received a $10,000 check from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.

Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU

Teen held in alleged months-long sex assault

Police arrested a 15-year-old McCully boy Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl over several months.

The victim, of Kamehameha Heights, told police that the assaults took place at her home from May until August. The boy was later released pending investigation.

Women allegedly tries to cash stolen check

A 21-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of second-degree forgery for trying to cash a stolen check Sunday at a Moiliili bank, police said.

The check belonged to a 72-year-old Pacific Heights man.

NORTH SHORE

2 Pearl City men claim machete death threats

Police charged a 19-year-old Haleiwa man Sunday after he allegedly threatened to kill two Pearl City men with a machete.

Police identified him as Frank Russell Silva.

The incident happened about 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Haleiwa. The victims, ages 26 and 36, were uninjured.

Police arrested Silva that day and charged him the following day with first-degree terroristic threatening. He is being held in lieu of $11,000 bail.

Car crash fatality ID'd as Haleiwa man, 19

The Medical Examiner's Office identified the 19-year-old man who died Friday in a single car crash near Shark's Cove as Carl Waiwaiole of Haleiwa.

Waiwaiole was traveling Kahuku-bound on Kamehameha Highway when he veered onto the shoulder and slammed into a utility pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

LEEWARD OAHU

Man arrested after girl claims sexual assault

A Makakilo man turned himself in to Kapolei police Sunday after a 12-year-old girl accused him of sexually assaulting her several times since June 1, 2003.

The man was arrested for first-degree sexual assault and three counts of third-degree sexual assault.

Speed may have caused bus-motorcycle crash

Speed might have been a factor in a Saturday afternoon crash involving a motorcycle and a school bus, police said.

The accident happened about 4:30 p.m. on Ala Iki Drive, fronting Leeward Community College.

Police said yesterday that the motorcycle's 23-year-old driver might have been speeding when he rammed into the bus as it made a left turn into the college.

The man was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. The bus driver, a 35-year-old woman, and her two adult passengers were not injured in the crash.

CENTRAL OAHU

Inquiry continues in fire that killed woman

Fire investigators are focusing on the family room of a Waipio Acres home where a 74-year-old woman died early Saturday, a fire official said.

Elaine Kahiamoe and her husband, William, had made it out of the house at 95-149 Wailawa Place after being awakened by the fire at about 3:30 a.m.

However, Elaine Kahiamoe went back into the house to retrieve a pet dog. She never came out.

Damage was estimated at $320,000.

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

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Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire Man pleads no contest in Pro Bowl ticket case The former head of a local ticket agency pleaded no contest to first-degree theft yesterday in connection with roughly half a million dollars allegedly owed to the National Football League for sales and sponsorship money from the 2003 Pro Bowl. Manny Sanchez, former chief executive officer of Ticket Plus Inc., entered his plea before state Circuit Judge Richard Pollack. Pollack has set a Feb. 22 sentencing date. The NFL sued Sanchez and the company in September 2003, alleging it was owed $474,604 for Pro Bowl tickets sold by the company and a $100,000 event sponsorship fee for the 2003 game. In August 2003, Sanchez said he made one payment of $100,000 to the NFL and was seeking a loan to pay the rest of the amount. Los Angeles-based Ticketmaster, the worldwide ticketing agency, purchased Ticket Plus Inc. in March 2003, but Ticketmaster was not named in the suit. Sanchez has since left the company. Meetings to discuss Maui bus transit plan WAILUKU » Maui County will hold meetings to develop a five-year bus transit plan on the Valley Isle, including the possibility of instituting a transit service between Central and South Maui. The meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. today at the Kihei Community Center, tomorrow at the Lahaina Civic Center, Thursday at the Kahului Community Center and Friday at the Kula Community Center. Activities across state mark World AIDS Day The state Department of Health has helped organize several activities tomorrow in observance of World AIDS Day. Kapiolani Community College will have information tables in the cafeteria from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Speakers will be in the cafeteria from noon to 1 p.m. Stories about women around the world who have dedicated their lives to fighting AIDS will be told at St. Andrew's Cathedral. The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the church's Queen Emma Square. Free parking is available in the church lot. The African American Education Cultural Center Hawaii will also present a talk on the AIDS epidemic among African Americans from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Blaisdell Center's Oahu Room. RSVP at 523-7406 or 597-1341. On the Big Island, there will be an interfaith candlelight ceremony at Hulihee Palace in Kona. On Maui a ceremony in remembrance of AIDS victims is scheduled to be held at Trinity by the Sea Episcopal Church in Kihei from 6 to 7 p.m. For more information, call Nancy Kern at the state Department of Health at 733-9281. Aquarium sets holiday hours The Waikiki Aquarium will have special holiday hours. The schedule follows: » Christmas Eve, Dec. 24: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. » Christmas Day, Dec. 25: closed » New Year's Eve, Dec. 31: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. » New Year's Day, Jan. 1: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $9 for visitors; $6 for local residents, active-duty military with ID, students with ID and seniors; $4 for those 13 through 17; $2 for juniors 5 through 12 and those with disabilities; free for children 4 and under. For more information, call 923-9741 or visit go online at www.waquarium.org . BACK TO TOP \| [ TAKING NOTICE ] » Dell Inc. has awarded $10,000 to 20 organizations throughout the nation to organize a free "No Computer Should Go to Waste" collection event in their community. Recipients included the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management in Kailua-Kona. » Hawaii 3 R's (Repair, Remodel and Restore Hawaii's public schools) has awarded grants to five public schools statewide to help them complete more than $335,000 million in repairs. The schools are Lahaina Intermediate, Lahainaluna High, Maui High, Mauka Lani Elementary and Pearl City Highlands Elementary. Hawaii 3 R's has received funding from the state and federal governments and the Hawaii Community Foundation, Campbell Estate, James and Abigail Campbell Foundation, AT&T Foundation and Harold K.L. Castle Foundation. » The Arthritis Foundation has received $10,000 from the Building Industry Labor Association of Hawaii for a third year to support programs for children afflicted with the disease. The grant provides an arthritis camp for children and a juvenile arthritis conference every year. The foundation also received a $10,000 check from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Police, Fire, Courts By Star-Bulletin staff HONOLULU Teen held in alleged months-long sex assault Police arrested a 15-year-old McCully boy Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl over several months. The victim, of Kamehameha Heights, told police that the assaults took place at her home from May until August. The boy was later released pending investigation. Women allegedly tries to cash stolen check A 21-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of second-degree forgery for trying to cash a stolen check Sunday at a Moiliili bank, police said. The check belonged to a 72-year-old Pacific Heights man. NORTH SHORE 2 Pearl City men claim machete death threats Police charged a 19-year-old Haleiwa man Sunday after he allegedly threatened to kill two Pearl City men with a machete. Police identified him as Frank Russell Silva. The incident happened about 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Haleiwa. The victims, ages 26 and 36, were uninjured. Police arrested Silva that day and charged him the following day with first-degree terroristic threatening. He is being held in lieu of $11,000 bail. Car crash fatality ID'd as Haleiwa man, 19 The Medical Examiner's Office identified the 19-year-old man who died Friday in a single car crash near Shark's Cove as Carl Waiwaiole of Haleiwa. Waiwaiole was traveling Kahuku-bound on Kamehameha Highway when he veered onto the shoulder and slammed into a utility pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene. LEEWARD OAHU Man arrested after girl claims sexual assault A Makakilo man turned himself in to Kapolei police Sunday after a 12-year-old girl accused him of sexually assaulting her several times since June 1, 2003. The man was arrested for first-degree sexual assault and three counts of third-degree sexual assault. Speed may have caused bus-motorcycle crash Speed might have been a factor in a Saturday afternoon crash involving a motorcycle and a school bus, police said. The accident happened about 4:30 p.m. on Ala Iki Drive, fronting Leeward Community College. Police said yesterday that the motorcycle's 23-year-old driver might have been speeding when he rammed into the bus as it made a left turn into the college. The man was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. The bus driver, a 35-year-old woman, and her two adult passengers were not injured in the crash. CENTRAL OAHU Inquiry continues in fire that killed woman Fire investigators are focusing on the family room of a Waipio Acres home where a 74-year-old woman died early Saturday, a fire official said. Elaine Kahiamoe and her husband, William, had made it out of the house at 95-149 Wailawa Place after being awakened by the fire at about 3:30 a.m. However, Elaine Kahiamoe went back into the house to retrieve a pet dog. She never came out. Damage was estimated at $320,000. Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers	— ADVERTISEMENTS — — ADVERTISEMENTS —