Coach pleads no contest to striking youth

A youth-team football coach accused of hitting an opponent’s player in the middle of a game has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault.

Ionatana Alualu, 46, of Kalihi faces a maximum one-year jail term at sentencing in June.

He pleaded no contest Monday to assaulting a 12-year-old boy during an April 25, 2012, Hawaii State Jr. Prep Football League game at Lei­le­hua High School. Alualu was a coach for the Kalihi-based Rock Solid Crusaders team. The 12-year-old boy was a member of the Wahiawa Lancers.

The league commissioner said he banned Alualu indefinitely from any league events following the incident. Witnesses said Alualu ran onto the field and assaulted the boy.

Man accused of robbing acquaintance

Hawaii island police arrested a 54-year-old Hilo man Thursday in a robbery in downtown Hilo.

At 12:03 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to the Moo­heau bus terminal after receiving a report of a fight. A 32-year-old Haka­lau man reported that an acquaintance took an undisclosed amount of money from him while at Moo­heau Bandstand, police said.

When the victim attempted to retrieve the money, the suspect reportedly punched him several times and fled.

The victim suffered facial injuries. Fire Department medics took him to Hilo Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

The suspect was being held on suspicion of second-degree robbery at the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.