Missile tracking test successful

KEKAHA, KAUAI » The military says it successfully detected and tracked a medium-range missile target during a test off Kauai.

The Defense Department says Thursday’s test was to demonstrate that the Aegis defense system can engage and track a ballistic missile while using only tracks from remote airborne sensors.

The target missile was launched from Kauai’s Pacific Missile Range Facility. Sailors aboard the USS John Paul Jones used radar to detect and track the target.

The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System is the naval component of the nation’s missile defense program.

Kauai temperatures hit records

Over the last week, Kauai has gathered up several record-breaking high temperatures.

Thursday’s high temperature of 88 degrees set a record for the date, breaking the old record of 87 set in 1981.

The high temperature at Lihue Airport has matched or set records five out of the last seven days since Oct. 10.

Wednesday’s high of 87 degrees broke a record of 86 set in 1981. Tuesday’s 87 degrees broke the old record of 86 set in 1991. Sunday’s 86 degrees tied the record of 86 set in 1981, and the high of 87 degrees Oct. 10 tied the record set in 1984.

Man sentenced for carjacking

HILO » The Hawaii island man whose carjacking set off a morning rush-hour manhunt last year in Hilo has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Jeremy Rios, 33, was sentenced Tuesday by Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara to five years on charges that included carjacking and assault, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported. He was given five more years for violating probation. The sentences will run consecutively.

Rios pleaded guilty in July to felony assault, terroristic threatening, unauthorized entry to a motor vehicle, auto theft, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, resisting an order to stop, driving with a suspended license and theft.

Prosecutors said Rios on July 30, 2013, knocked a 55-year-old man down with a head-butt, kicked him and told him, "I’ll be back to finish you off," as he left. The man suffered a broken rib and nose. A short time later at 7:40 a.m., police took calls of a man brandishing a gun from a car.

As police gave chase, the car struck a pickup. According to prosecutors, Rios exited, climbed into the passenger seat of a car stopped because of the crash and told the driver, "They’re trying to kill me." The driver bolted, and Rios drove off in her car. He ditched it near the Mauna Kea Visitors Center. Police searched for Rios on foot and by helicopter, and he was arrested at about 6:30 p.m. when he emerged from a field.

Defense attorney Stanton Oshiro said Rios needs to be treated simultaneously for mental illness and substance abuse. Rios was motivated by fear, he said, and was not trying to hurt anyone.