Isle sex offender caught in Mexico

A man wanted for 15 years in Hawaii in connection with the sexual assault of a teenage boy in 1993 has been caught in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, a U.S. Marshals Service news release said.

Convicted sex offender Michael Andrew Stephens, born Michael Andrew Kulhanek, has been indicted on three counts of sexual assault and one count of promoting intoxicating liquor to a minor. Stephens had been on the run since staging his disappearance at sea, the release said. After elevating the case's urgency in 2006, investigators found Stephens applied for a U.S. passport in 1996, using his birth name at the U.S. Consulate in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

In April, “;America's Most Wanted”; aired Stephens' case during the “;60 seconds of shame”; segment.

On Oct. 3 the show received a tip that Stephens owned a business in Zihuatanejo and lived nearby.

Recently, deputies in Mexico City and Mexican customs officials found Stephens. He will be transported to local authorities in Houston, pending extradition proceedings to bring him back for trial in Hawaii.

Stephens was convicted in 1990 on three counts of sex assault and one count of kidnapping involving three teenage boys. He was on probation in 1993 when he allegedly sexually assaulted another boy.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Famous violinist endures theft

A world-renowned American violinist who had performed at a fundraiser on Kauai had her Meissner & Son violin, case and three French bows stolen from her rental car Monday afternoon. The items are valued at about $15,000. The violin alone is worth $10,000, police said.

Kauai police said Karen Briggs of California was at Mahaulepu Beach when her rental car was broken into at about 2 p.m. Monday. Police said there was damage to the rear driver's-side window caused by a large lava rock. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 241-1887 or police dispatch at 241-1711.

EAST OAHU

Handcuffed suspect assaults officer

Police arrested a 25-year-old man who allegedly broke an officer's finger early today.

About 1:25 a.m., police arrested the suspect in Hawaii Kai for two outstanding contempt warrants. As an officer was driving the suspect to the police station, the suspect managed to move his hands, which were handcuffed behind his back, to the front of his body.

Police said the 25-year-old man started to yell and banged against the window that separates the front and back seats in the police car. After the officer stopped the vehicle to reposition the suspect's handcuffs, the suspect grabbed and fractured the officer's finger, police said. The suspect was then arrested on suspicion of assault of a law enforcement officer in the first-degree.

Man accused of car break-in

Police arrested a 24-year-old man who allegedly rummaged through two cars in the carport of a Hawaii Kai home and then allegedly removed mail from the homeowner's mailbox.

Witnesses told police they saw the man enter and search both cars at about 2:20 p.m. Tuesday and then go down to the mailbox, remove items and throw them on the ground fronting the home.

A woman's credit card statement was among the items thrown on the ground, police said. Officers arrested the man for investigation of two counts of first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and one count of unauthorized possession of confidential and personal information.

HONOLULU

Man is arrested in theft of checks

Police arrested a 32-year-old man who allegedly tried to cash checks from a Kailua nonprofit group.

Police said the man went into a Honolulu bank at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and tried to cash a check that was made out to cash.

The teller realized that a notice had been put on the nonprofit group's account that checks in the name of organization had been reported stolen.

Officers arrived at the bank while the suspect was still at the teller's window and arrested him for investigation of second-degree theft.

WAIKIKI

Family, police seek missing woman, 22

Police are asking for the public's help in searching for a 22-year-old Waikiki woman who was last seen Aug. 3 in Waikiki.

Family members of Marianne Waters who live on the mainland and Japan are concerned since she usually routinely calls several times a week but has not made contact since.

She is described as Caucasian, with blond hair, blue eyes, 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 110 pounds.

Anyone with information on Waters is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.