Man charged with arson in fatal blaze

A 43-year-old homeless man has been charged with starting a house fire that killed a 76-year-old man last month in Kalihi and left 22 people homeless.

James Kimo Moses remained at the main police cell block yesterday in lieu of $500,000 bail. He was charged yesterday with second-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, six counts of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree arson and three drug violations.

Police said they found Moses at a homeless encampment in Kakaako at Ahui and Olomehani streets at about 3 p.m. Thursday. While arresting Moses, police allegedly also found drugs.

The fire that Moses allegedly started killed Clarence Isobe, who was pulled out of the two-story wooden building and taken to the hospital, where he died.

Firefighters determined the fire was intentionally started outside the rooming house at 1909 Liliha St. at about 12:30 a.m. Feb. 2.

Two other people were treated for injuries from the fire.

Soldier commits suicide with gun

A soldier died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Friday night after barricading himself or herself in a vehicle on Schofield Barracks, the Army said yesterday.

Lt. Col. Matt Garner said the soldier’s identity cannot be released until after the next of kin are notified. Garner yesterday would not release any other information about the soldier, including sex, rank, age or hometown.

At about 5:30 p.m. Friday, military police cordoned off an area of Schofield Barracks in response to a report that a soldier was brandishing a weapon on post, Garner said.

The soldier was taken to Wahiawa General Hospital.

Extension cord blamed in fire

A faulty extension cord started a fire Friday that caused $450,000 damage to a home in Waipahu, firefighters said.

The fire at 94-449 Hiahia Loop started in a spare bedroom of the four-bedroom home about 2 p.m. and destroyed the home.

Two people were inside at the time. A man was injured when he went back into the house to rescue an elderly woman, who was already outside the burning building.

He was taken to the hospital for observation and released.

The American Red Cross helped the three residents.

Man charged with arson in fatal blaze

A 43-year-old homeless man has been charged with starting a house fire that killed a 76-year-old man last month in Kalihi and left 22 people homeless.

James Kimo Moses remained at the main police cell block yesterday in lieu of $500,000 bail. He was charged yesterday with second-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, six counts of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree arson and three drug violations.

Police said they found Moses at a homeless encampment in Kakaako at Ahui and Olomehani streets at about 3 p.m. Thursday. While arresting Moses, police allegedly also found drugs.

The fire that Moses allegedly started killed Clarence Isobe, who was pulled out of the two-story wooden building and taken to the hospital, where he died.

Firefighters determined the fire was intentionally started outside the rooming house at 1909 Liliha St. at about 12:30 a.m. Feb. 2.

Two other people were treated for injuries from the fire.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Maui resident fined $11,000 for gambling

A Maui man has been ordered to pay $11,000 in fines for his part in a sport-betting operation that led police to seize $118,000 four years ago.

The Maui News reported a judge on Wednesday sentenced Garth Nakamura of Wailuku to five years’ probation. The 40-year-old pleaded no contest to first-degree promotion of gambling and first-degree promotion of gambling records.

Nakamura’s uncle, Kent Nakamura, received the same punishment for his role in the betting operation during a November sentencing. The uncle reached the same plea deal.

The two were arrested in 2007 when police vice officers executed search warrants. They found $60,220 in a cardboard box and betting slips in Nakamura’s car.

Correction: Garth Nakamura, of Wailuku, Maui, received five years of probation and must pay $11,000 in fines for helping run a sports-betting operation. An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect first name.