---

Soldier killed in Iraq ID'd as California man

The first casualty in the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Brigade Combat Team since the unit was deployed to Iraq last month has been identified as Spec. Glenn J. Watkins.

Watkins, of Carlsbad, Calif., was one of more than 70 Washington Army National Guard soldiers who volunteered to remain in Iraq after their unit returned home, the Seattle-based ABC affiliate KOMO reported yesterday.

Watkins, 42, died Tuesday when a bomb exploded alongside the Humvee that he was riding in, the Pentagon reported. He was listed as a member of the Washington Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry, which is part of Washington Army National Guard's 81st Brigade Combat Team.

Watkins, a 23-year military veteran, was mobilized with the 81st Brigade Combat Team in November 2003 and served in Iraq until they redeployed in late March and early April of this year, the TV station reported.

He volunteered to remain in Iraq and serve with his old unit, the 184th Infantry of the California Army National Guard, which had been mobilized as part of the 29th Infantry Brigade.

He is survived by his wife and four children, three of whom live with his wife in Tacoma, and a son in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.

25-year-old indicted in child-porn case

An Oahu grand jury has indicted a 25-year-old man with distributing and possessing child pornography earlier this year.

Bendy Sysomboun-Makilan is charged with second-degree and third-degree promotion of child abuse. Bail was set at $50,000.

The offenses allegedly occurred on March 13 and April 5.

---

» U.S. Rep. Ed Case has nominated residents from the 2nd Congressional District to various military academies. Classes will begin July 25.

His nominees are:

U.S. Air Force Academy
Principal or 1st choice -- Edward K. Goodhue of Pukoo, Molokai, now attending Northwestern Preparatory School; 1st alternate -- Joshua C. Newman of Kaneohe, Hawaii Pacific University; 2nd alternate -- Travis J. Delzer of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Kealakehe High School.

U.S. Military Academy
1st principal -- Kai J. Yamashiro of Kaneohe, Iolani; 1st alternate -- John F. Sauve of Wahiawa, Leilehua High School; 2nd alternate -- Ryan T. Kelly of Kailua, University of Texas; 2nd principal -- John F. Sauve of Wahiawa, Leilehua High; 1st alternate -- Kai J. Yamashiro of Kaneohe, Iolani; 2nd alternate -- Ryan T. Kelly of Kailua, Kalaheo High.

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Jon A. Bjornen of Hilo, Christian Liberty School; Zachary Say of Waikoloa, Hawaii, Hawaii Preparatory Academy; Stewart F. Sciulli of Kailua, U.S. Air Force Academy; William E. Wilkerson of Pukalani, Maui, King Kekaulike High School.

U.S. Naval Academy
Principal -- Ryan T. Kelly of Kailua, Oahu, University of Texas; 1st alternate -- Matthew G. Beebe of Kailua, Iolani School; 2nd alternate -- Marco L. Anich of Kailua, Kalaheo High School.

---

Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

WINDWARD OAHU
Man, 61, apparent victim of drowning

A 61-year-old Honolulu man apparently drowned at Bellows Beach in Waimanalo yesterday.

Police said the man was found floating face down and was unresponsive. A Fire Department spokesman said the man was with family members and someone pulled him out of the water before paramedics arrived and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The man was taken by ambulance to Castle Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
3 California men are suspected burglars

Big Island police on Thursday arrested three California men suspected of burglarizing two Keauhou homes.

Detectives arrested two 25-year-old suspects from Newhall and a 24-year-old Los Angeles man.

Police said the men were found Thursday near the burglarized homes with property from one of the homes taken the day before.

Detectives found the suspects had stolen property from a second residence burglarized that morning.

Police charged Jeffrey Hearn, 25, of Newhall, Calif., with two counts of burglary, two counts of theft and auto theft. He is being held in lieu of $7,000 bail.

Police said the other two men were released pending investigation.

HONOLULU
Man found asleep in stolen car arrested

Police arrested a 48-year-old man who fell asleep in a stolen car early yesterday in the Kapahulu area.

Patrol officers found two men sleeping in a parked van belonging to a business establishment about 2:30 a.m. A check of the license plate revealed that the van had been stolen. Police said one of the men inside had the keys to the van.

They arrested him for investigation of detaining stolen property.