Hawaii County prosecutors Thursday charged a 59-year-old South Korean man in connection with a stabbing and domestic dispute at a South Kohala resort.
Kyoung Sun Yoo of Yuseong Gu, South Korea, who was initially arrested Wednesday on suspicion of attempted murder, was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree terroristic threatening and abuse of a family or household member. His bail was set at $8,000.
His initial court appearance is scheduled for today, unless he posts bail.
Police said Yoo confronted and stabbed a 52-year-old South Korean man who was found in a hotel room with a 52-year-old woman who is a member of Yoo’s family or household. Police have not disclosed their relationship.
The 52-year-old man sustained puncture wounds to his chest and thigh, and remained hospitalized Thursday in stable condition.
The woman was treated for a head injury Wednesday and released.
Man charged with attempted murder
Authorities charged a 34-year-old man Thursday in the shooting death of a man whose decomposed body was found over the weekend in Puna.
Eric Fontes Jr., who has no permanent address, is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree theft, terroristic threatening and a firearm violation. He was being held in lieu of $725,000 bail, pending a court appearance today.
Authorities used dental records to identify the victim as 59-year-old Barton Allen Bumatay of Keaau, who had been missing since New Year’s Eve. An autopsy determined that he died from gunshot wounds.
Detectives investigating the case discovered Bumatay’s body Saturday in the area of Beach Road off Makuu Drive in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision. At the time, police said the body was too decomposed to determine the victim’s identity or gender.
Police said Bumatay’s stolen truck was recovered Wednesday from Mountain View.
Officers arrested Fontes in Hilo on Tuesday.
Furlough inmate’s parole in jeopardy
Oahu Community Correctional Center inmate John Luna, who was waiting for the parole board to set his release date, failed to check in while on extended furlough Wednesday.
Inmates in the extended-furlough program live and work outside of the facility but must check in at various times throughout the month.
Luna, 36, is serving time for first-degree burglary, second-degree robbery, unauthorized possession of confidential personal information and several drug violations. He now faces additional time if convicted of second-degree escape.
He was tentatively approved for parole and awaiting the parole board to set the release date.
He is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.
Woman, 79, dragged in robbery attempt
A man knocked a 79-year-old woman to the ground and dragged her in a purse-snatching attempt on Banyan Drive in Hilo on Wednesday night, Hawaii County police said.
Police said the woman was walking up the entrance ramp to a hotel when a man pulled on her purse, causing her to fall, at about 8 p.m. The woman hung onto her purse and yelled for help as the man dragged her by her purse.
The man fled south on foot without the purse, police said.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Tourist report of shark bite closes bay
Ocean Safety officials closed Hanalei Bay to swimming Thursday after a surfer reported to lifeguards that he had been bitten by a shark.
At about 2 p.m. a visitor from Minnesota was paddling to shore near Hanalei Pier when he was bitten by what he believed to be a shark, according to a Kauai County news release.
Although officials did not see the shark, lifeguards said the man suffered cuts to both hands. After lifeguards treated him, the visitor drive himself to the hospital.
Lifeguards posted “no swimming” signs along the beach and alerted beachgoers to stay out of the water until further notice.
Kona reserve is scheduled for discussion
A hearing and informational meeting on the establishment of a marine reserve at Kaupulehu in Kona will be held Feb. 11 at the Kealakehe High School cafeteria, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced.
The informational meeting will be held from 6 to 7 p.m., and the public rule-making hearing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m.
The reserve boundaries will encompass the existing Kaupulehu Fish Replenishment Area. The proposed amendments would provide a 10-year near-shore fishing ban — with limited exceptions — to allow for the recovery of reef fish stocks before the implementation of a subsistence fishery management plan.
People who are unable to attend or wish to present additional comments may mail written testimony by Feb. 26 to the Division of Aquatic Resources, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 330; Honolulu, HI 96813.
