Puna man is charged
in abuse of girlfriend
Police say the victim was
imprisoned and beaten for weeks
HILO » Ernest Horcajo III of Puna allegedly brutalized his girlfriend during a six-week period with various objects, including a metal pipe, golf club, cane stalk, hammer handle and steak knife, according to police documents filed in Hilo District Court.
A preliminary hearing was to be held in District Court today for Horcajo to determine whether there is enough evidence to send the case to trial. Arraigned on eight charges yesterday including attempted murder, Horcajo did not enter a plea.
He is being held in lieu of $104,000 bail.
Police documents describe Horcajo, 24, as having an eighth-grade education and unemployed with no occupational background. He is not suspected of using drugs and was described as sober when arrested Wednesday in Paradise Park subdivision, police said.
The arrest took place with the aid of a county helicopter joining the search the same day that Horcajo's girlfriend escaped from him in nearby Ainaloa subdivision with the help of a female friend.
Police said the victim was in stable condition following treatment at Hilo Medical Center for numerous injuries.
About mid-October, Horcajo made the woman his prisoner, police said. During the next six weeks, he allegedly committed the following acts:
» Held the victim against her will, not allowing her to speak to others, following her and telling her he would kill her if she left, leading to a charge of kidnapping.
» Struck her with a golf club and pipe, as well as punched and kicked her, leading to two charges of second-degree assault.
» Sexually assaulted her, threatening to kill her. On one occasion, she blacked out because of the pain, police said. Police filed four counts of first-degree sexual assault against Horcajo.
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