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Big Island kumu hula sued over traffic death

HILO » A lawsuit has been filed aganst Big Island hula master Ray Fonseca for the death of a man riding a motor scooter on a rural road last year.

The suit follows a grand jury indictment of Fonseca two weeks ago in connection with the collision. Fonseca was charged with first-degree negligent homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicating substance.

Police said that Fonseca, 51, who also spells his first name as Rae, was driving a sport utility vehicle out of the remote Eden Roc subdivision south of Hilo when he hit head-on a motor scooter driven by Michael Spens, 59.

According to the lawsuit filed by Spens' daughter Dawn, Spens suffered internal and head injuries in the 7:22 p.m. collision on Dec. 13, 2003. Police said Spens died at 1:27 p.m. the next day in Hilo Hospital.

The suit says the vehicle driven by Fonseca was owned by Cathy Arakaki of Mountain View, who is also named as a defendant.

Fonseca is the kumu hula of Halau Hula O Kahikilaulani. The school competes regularly in Merrie Monarch competitions and took third place last year in the Wahine Kahiko division.

Fonseca could not be reached for comment.

Man indicted in alleged sexual assault of teen

An Oahu grand jury has indicted a 43-year-old Ewa Beach man for allegedly sexually assaulting a then-13-year-old girl.

Terance McCutchen was indicted Tuesday on three counts of first-degree sexual assault and three counts of third-degree sexual assault.

The indictment states McCutchen allegedly committed six acts of sexual assault on June 30, 1997. The alleged victim is now 20.

Federal grant to help state homeless care

Hawaii is receiving $305,473 in federal funds to help feed and shelter the homeless in 2005.

The grant was announced yesterday by the Federal Emergency Management Association.

The money is part of $153 million set aside by Congress for the agency's Emergency Food and Shelter program.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU

Burglars cut locks off Public Storage units

Police want help identifying a woman and two men who burglarized a storage facility in Kaimuki on Dec. 6.

The suspects entered the Public Storage facility, 2888 Waialae Ave., and cut locks on three separate storage units and stole numerous items, police said.

A video shows a female suspect opening an account under a stolen identity, police said. The video also shows a man and a woman using an access code of the newly opened account to enter the area.

The woman who allegedly opened the account is described as in her 40s, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a heavy build, short brown highlighted hair, wearing a black DKNY short-sleeved shirt and jeans.

The man is described as between 18 and 22 years old, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a medium build, light mustache and goatee, wearing a "TaylorMade" golf cap, a thick gold chain and a gray polo shirt.

The other male suspect is described as 18 to 22 years old, with a slim build, brown shoulder-length hair with bangs and blond highlights, wearing a gray jacket, dark shirt, pants and white athletic shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Dee Ann Koanui at 529-3446 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, *CRIME on a cell phone.

LEEWARD OAHU

Armed robber wishes teller 'Merry Christmas'

Police are asking for the public's help in identifying a man who robbed a Waipahu bank teller yesterday, then wished her "Merry Christmas."

The suspect entered the Waipahu branch of City Bank, 94-210 Pupukahi St., at 12:45 p.m. yesterday.

He stood in line, then brandished a black and silver handgun and demanded money from the teller.

The suspect was described as in his late 30s, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, with a medium build, brown hair, hazel eyes, clean-shaven, wearing a green baseball cap, dark blue sweater, denim shorts and black slippers.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Detective Michael Ogawa at 529-3881 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, *CRIME on a cell phone.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

1 vehicle still missing after fraudulent buy

Kona police have arrested a 43-year-old Waimea woman for theft after she allegedly used fraudulent documents to buy two new vehicles from a car dealership.

Police said the woman used a fraudulent pre-authorized transfer order (bill of exchange) and other financial documents to purchase two vehicles.

The woman bought a blue 2005 Ford Expedition and a silver 2005 Ford F350 pickup truck valued at $91,484. Police recovered the sport utility vehicle but are still looking for the pickup truck.

Kona drowning victim had no known address

A 37-year-old man apparently drowned Tuesday off Magic Sands Beach in Kailua-Kona, Big Island police said.

The victim was identified as Wilson Oliva, who had no permanent address.

Lifeguards and fire rescue personnel administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the victim at about 2:21 p.m.

Oliva was taken to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:08 p.m.

Witnesses told police waves were 8 to 10 feet high. Oliva was swimming when he went under a wave and never surfaced, police said. A lifeguard swam out and brought him to shore, police said.