By JOHN BURNETT
By JOHN BURNETT
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Police have arrested a 30-year-old man indicted last week by a Hilo grand jury for a July home invasion in Puna and are seeking another 30-year-old man indicted for the same alleged crime.
On Monday afternoon, Mark Yun Jin McCurley was arrested while awaiting a preliminary hearing in Hilo District Court — which was rendered unnecessary by the indictment — and charged with second-degree robbery, second-degree theft and kidnapping. A bench warrant set McCurley’s bail at $85,000, and he was scheduled for arraignment and plea Tuesday afternoon in Hilo Circuit Court.
A co-defendant, 30-year-old Kawika Benny Kahee, was also indicted on the same charges. Kahee, who was free on supervised release, was also scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Monday, but didn’t show up. Police are seeking him on a bench warrant for second-degree robbery, third-degree assault, second-degree theft, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, and drug paraphernalia. His bail is set at $57,000.
He also has two arrest warrants for probation revocation and a bench warrant for contempt of court.
A 56-year-old woman reported that on July 24, three men who were invited to her Leilani Estates home restrained and assaulted her before fleeing with several items worth $12,590, according to court documents filed by police. She told police that McCurley held a pillow over her head while the home was ransacked. Another man, who identified himself as “John,” struck her twice to the head.
Documents state that the victim identified “John” as Kahee from a photo line-up.
The suspects left the home in a white Ford Mustang, the woman said. The third suspect has not been identified and police are looking for him.
Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Kahee, who is described as Hawaiian, 5-foot-11, about 265 pounds, shoulder length straight black hair, brown eyes, tan complexion, a large build. He often wears a light mustache and goatee. He also has several tattoos, including “Trinity” on his chest, “Serenity” on his entire right forearm, and a large ornamental tattoo wrapping around his left forearm.
Anyone with information on Kahee’s whereabouts or the identity and whereabouts of the third suspect is asked to contact Detective Derek Morimoto at 961-2380 or dmorimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us or to call the police non-emergency line at 935-3311.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.