FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016 | WEST HAWAII TODAY 8A 6 months in jail for nude photos Jerome Kailiwai posted pics to ‘get back’ at ex-girlfriend KEALAKEKUA — A man who placed nude photos of an ex-girlfriend on social media was sentenced to six months in jail and four years of probation as part of a deferred acceptance of a guilty plea. Jerome Kailiwai, 39, of Kailua- Kona, was charged with firstdegree violation of privacy, first-degree extortion, second-degree terroristic threatening and 13 counts of violating a temporary restraining order. On Tuesday he pleaded guilty to the violation of privacy charge and five counts of violating a restraining order, while the state agreed to drop the other charges. The events came from a short romantic relationship that the woman broke off, deputy prosecuting attorney Kate Deleon said, and Kailiwai used photos the woman had sent him as a way to lash out. He did this by posting the images to the social media system Instagram, attaching her name to the photos so family and friends would see it. The later violations of the restraining order showed a pattern of “continuous harassment,” she said. Kailiwai said he knew he was violating the court order when he sent the messages, but he was trying to apologize. Judge Ronald Ibarra asked “after one, two, court orders, why did you continue?” He said he was still not thinking straight. Deputy public defender Ann Datta said Kailiwai was cooperative with the legal system throughout the course of the case, and a lesser sentence was appropriate. He gave a full confession to investigators and accepted the restraining orders from the Family Court, she said. “This was a love relationship. It broke his heart and he did crazy things,” Datta said. Kailiwai also spoke to the court, at times with quiet reminders from Datta. The breaking point was when he found she was dating other men at the same time. His goal was very direct, he said, as he did it “just to get her back for what she did to me.” He apologized twice for his actions, and there was a positive result for him. “Being locked up has totally helped me, mentally, physically and, most of all, spirituality,” he said. In addition to the time in jail, Ibarra gave credit for the 58 days Kailiwai has already served. Ibarra reinforced the no-contact order and required a letter of apology. It would be given to his probation officer, who would judge if it was appropriate to forward to the victim. “I hear you,” Ibarra said. “You weren’t in your right mind, so get your mental health assessment.” He also sentenced the violations of the restraining order to be concurrent. “I can understand you were very upset, but that doesn’t excuse what you did,” Ibarra said. BY GRAHAM MILLDRUM WEST HAWAII TODAY gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com IN BRIEF | BIG ISLAND & STATE Kona courthouse arson under investigation KAILUA-KONA — An arson investigation has been initiated following a fire that was deliberately set Thursday morning at Big Island Drug Court in South Kona. At 6:59 a.m. Thursday, Kona Patrol officers responded to a report of a fire at the courthouse on Halekii Street in Kealakekua. The case is being investigated as first-degree arson. Arriving officers learned that passersby had extinguished the flames with fire extinguishers from the courthouse before police and firefighters arrived. Two employees were in the courthouse when the fire was set but no injuries were reported. Damage was confined to the front door and a wall, according to the Hawaii Police Department. Investigation revealed that the fire was deliberately set by a “local male” wearing board shorts and a “hoodie,” police said. He fled in a pickup truck that appears to be primer gray with a black tailgate, black rims and a black front bumper grill. Police also want to question the occupant or occupants of a sedan who may have seen the suspect. Anyone with information about the fire, the identity of the suspect or the identity of the occupant or occupants of the sedan should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or Detective Walter Ah Mow at 326-4646, ext. 238, or walter.ahmow@ hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential. Car accident kills 2 men in North Kona KAILUA-KONA — Two men are dead after a head-on collision about 1 a.m. Thursday near mile marker 81 on Queen Kaahumanu Highway in North Kona. Stewart Kroll, 70, of Kailua- Kona, was driving south in a 2004 Honda when he crossed the center line and collided with a northbound 1999 Chevrolet van driven by Thomas Callero, 48, of Waikoloa. Both men were taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where Callero was pronounced dead at 3:05 a.m. and Kroll at 5:10 a.m. “It was not immediately known if speed or alcohol were factors in the crash,” police said in a press release. The road was closed for about five hours while investigators gathered evidence. Officer from the Traffic Enforcement Unit started a negligent homicide investigation and are asking for anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Kimo Keliipaakaua at 326-4646, ext. 229. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300. These are the third and fourth traffic fatalities on public roadways this year compared with five at this time last year. High surf advisory extended through this afternoon A high surf advisory has been extended through this afternoon for north- and west-facing shores of the Big Island. Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Honolulu expect 12- to 16-foot waves along north-facing shores and 8- to 12-foot north-facing shores through 6 p.m. today. Forecasters categorized the surf’s impact as “moderate,” cautioning the public to expect strong breaking waves, shore break and strong longshore and rip currents that can make swimming difficult and dangerous. The next northwest swell is expected to arrive by Saturday bringing advisory-level surf to north- and west-facing shores of the island. Dengue fever case count remains unchanged at 260 KAILUA-KONA — No new cases of dengue fever were confirmed by state health officials Thursday on the Big Island. Thursday marks the eighth day since the last case of the mosquito-borne virus was confirmed on Feb. 24. Since the start of the outbreak in September, 260 cases have been confirmed on the island. Of the confirmed cases, 235 are Hawaii Island residents and 25 are visitors. Forty-six have been children. Between Wednesday and Thursday, health officials excluded an additional 13 cases based on test results and/or not meeting case criteria. Since the start of the outbreak in September, a total of 1,374 potential cases have been excluded. The Kailua-Kona area was downgraded from a high-risk area for potential infection to a moderate-risk area, according to a map released Wednesday afternoon. However, Kailua- Kona remains the only area on the island where people are still considered to be at moderate risk for infection. Info: http://health.hawaii. gov/docd/dengue-outbreak 2015/ Health department confirms Hawaii’s first imported Zika case of 2016 KAILUA-KONA — The first imported case of Zika in Hawaii this year has been confirmed by the state Department of Health. The department said it does not routinely announce imported cases, but “because of the heightened awareness of Zika virus,” it released some information on the case. Health officials did not include which island the confirmed case occurred to protect the patient’s privacy. The announcement was posted on the Department of Health’s website Thursday afternoon. An imported case occurs when a person is bitten by an infected mosquito while traveling away from home. Health officials said the individual had a history of travel in the Pacific and has since recovered and is no longer infectious. The case was confirmed this week by the department’s State Laboratories Division. The department said it conducted an investigation of the case and has determined there is no health risk to the public. “Because people frequently travel to areas abroad where Zika virus is present, we can expect that we may see more imported cases in the coming months,” Health Director Dr. Virginia Pressler said in the press release. “With Zika, and our current dengue outbreak, it’s important for everyone in the state to reduce mosquito breeding areas by getting rid of standing water, and use repellant or protective clothing to prevent mosquito bites.” The department said it sent an advisory to health care providers statewide on Feb. 17, 2016, updating them on clinical guidance for Zika virus and urging them to be aware of areas abroad where Zika virus is circulating. In 2015, the Department of Health reported four imported cases of Zika virus in the state. Police warn of warranty scam Hawaii Island police are warning the public about a warranty scam. Two men in a U-Haul van have been going door-to-door in Puna selling what has been described as cheaply made equipment, such as generators and pressure washes, and claiming that if the equipment needs repairs, a rental company in the Shipman Industrial Park in Keaau will repair it, according to the Hawaii Police Department. The rental company is not affiliated in any way with the sellers of the equipment. Ex-cab driver sent to prison for sexual assault of customer HONOLULU (AP) — A former Honolulu taxi driver convicted of sexually assaulting a female passenger has been sentenced to five years in prison. Enio Ruben Tablas was sentenced Wednesday after he was found guilty last year of two counts of third-degree sexual assault. The judge has also ordered him to register as a sex offender and pay restitution to the victim. Tablas is accused of offering the 23-year-old victim a free ride home in Waikiki, taking her to an isolated area and then sexually assaulting her. During trial, Tablas testified he thought the July 2014 encounter had been consensual. He apologized for the incident in court Wednesday. Tablas is also awaiting trial on charges related to the sexual assault of another passenger in March 2014. By West Hawaii Today staff and wire sources Kailiwai Rose Cortez filled three shopping carts with dog food, rice, fishing poles and meat during the Sunday KTA $1,000 Shopping Spree she won at the Waimea location. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/GEORGE FULLER KTA STOCK UP
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