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Randal Lee confirmed to Circuit Court spot

Deputy City Prosecutor Randal Lee was confirmed by the Senate to a 10-year term as a judge in Oahu Circuit Court.

Lee, 50, received unanimous approval from all 22 senators present for yesterday's floor vote on his nomination.

Senate Judiciary Vice Chairman Clayton Hee (D, Kahuku-Kaneohe) spoke in strong support of Lee's nomination.

Hee noted that during Lee's committee hearing last week, several members of the state Public Defender's Office testified on his behalf, something that typically hasn't happened for past nominees.

"That, I believe, speaks very clearly about the fairness of this nominee from his adversaries," Hee said.

Lee replaces Sandra Simms, whose 10-year term on the bench ended last year when her request for a second term was rejected by the state Judicial Selection Commission.

Lee, who has been deputy prosecutor in Honolulu since 1982, is perhaps best known as the lead attorney in prosecuting campaign finance abuses being investigated by the state Campaign Spending Commission.

Lingle pegs $100,000 for Molokai-Maui ferry

Gov. Linda Lingle on Monday announced that the state will release $100,000 to design a new commuter ferry terminal at Molokai's Kaunakakai Harbor.

The new terminal for the Molokai-to-Maui ferry is expected to be completed by fall of 2006 and will include a comfort station, administrative office, parking and security fencing.

"This project is part of the state's overall plan to upgrade our harbor facilities," state Transportation Director Rod Haraga said. "The Molokai-Maui ferry system is an important link for residents who want to commute to work and visit family between the two islands, as well as for visitors who want to explore these islands."

The total design and construction cost of the project is estimated to be $3.5 million, of which about 80 percent will be covered by federal funds.

May 1 fund-raiser to aid abused children

Organizers are seeking student performers for the Malama Jam, a music and dance fund-raiser May 1 to help abused children.

Public and private school students are organizing the benefit and will provide the entertainment, with the proceeds going to the Children's Alliance of Hawaii. The event will be held at Mamiya Theater.

Student musicians and dancers who would like to perform at Malama Jam are encouraged to contact the organizers at 778-6470 or 780-2495 or at zkim07@punahou.edu. Tickets are $10.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Police name Kona man who died in Jeep crash

Big Island police have identified the man killed in a one-vehicle crash March 9 on the Kona Coast as Mark Elliot Freeman of Captain Cook.

Police said Freeman was driving south on Napoopoo Road in Captain Cook when he lost control of his Jeep about nine-tenths of a mile south of Mamalahoa Highway.

The Jeep ran off the road, hit an embankment and overturned some time before 6:10 p.m. Freeman was thrown from the vehicle, police said. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he died.

Officials investigating fire in empty house

A fire gutted an abandoned house in the Papaikou area of Hilo yesterday.

Police said the fire struck the Kalaoa Camp Road house about 4:42 p.m.

A fire inspector was investigating the cause. Police said no other homes in the area were damaged by the fire.

An estimate on the damages was not available last night.

WAIKIKI

Woman allegedly robbed and assaulted

A 31-year-old woman told police two men sexually assaulted her and took her money Friday morning.

The victim had been drinking alcohol in Waikiki when she befriended the suspects, two men in their 30s, police said. She invited them up to her room for more drinks, and then passed out while there.

When the woman awoke, she discovered she had been sexually assaulted and that money was missing from her purse, police said. Both suspects fled.

HONOLULU

Food delivery leads to couple's forgery arrest

A man and a woman were arrested after a restaurant delivery driver called police to report he had received $40 in counterfeit money in Makiki on Saturday night.

The suspects, a 39-year-old woman and 43-year-old man, allegedly had given the driver four fake $10 bills to pay for their food.

The two were arrested on suspicion of four counts of first-degree forgery and criminal possession of a forgery device.

Employee arrested in unauthorized fuel sale

Police arrested a 46-year-old man Monday night for allegedly selling diesel fuel to a fisherman without his employer's permission.

Police said the suspect was seen selling the fuel from his company's truck in the Sand Island area about 9:15 p.m.

The man's employer called police, who arrested him for investigation of second-degree theft.

LEEWARD OAHU

Man charged with smashing car windows

Police charged a 21-year-old man yesterday with allegedly smashing the windows of a car in which his child and the child's mother were sitting in Ewa Beach on Thursday.

He was charged with criminal property damage and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.