A 47-year-old Ocean View man pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges related to a May 2014 stabbing near a popular beach in Keaukaha. ADVERTISING A 47-year-old Ocean View man pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges related to a May 2014
A 47-year-old Ocean View man pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges related to a May 2014 stabbing near a popular beach in Keaukaha.
In a deal with prosecutors, Paul Michael Gibson entered the no-contest pleas to second-degree assault and first-degree terroristic threatening. He originally was charged with attempted second-degree murder, two counts of terroristic threatening, five firearms offenses, resisting an order to stop and failure to provide a DNA specimen to law enforcement.
Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. Oct. 16.
Court documents filed by police state Gibson was involved in a physical affray with David Coombes, then 41, of Hilo at the southwest end of James Kealoha Beach Park, also known as “4-Mile,” on May 10, 2014. Documents state Gibson stabbed Coombes seven times and allegedly brandished a black handgun with the hammer cocked and pointed it at Coombes’ head.
A loaded black .22-caliber semiautomatic pistol was found in some bushes along Apapane Road in Keaukaha.
Coombes’ wife, Alicia Jeremiah-Coombes, reportedly tried to intervene in the altercation. At a preliminary hearing last year, she testified Gibson’s attack was unprovoked and followed a confrontation at 4-Mile in honor of a deceased biker.
She said Gibson was wearing a bottom patch, or “rocker,” that identified him as a prospect for the Oahu chapter of 81, which she said is Hells Angels, the “8” standing for “H,” the eighth letter of the alphabet, and the “1” signifying “A,” the first letter.
She also testified her husband “retired” from a mainland motorcycle club four years earlier but wasn’t wearing club-related attire when attacked.
Gibson’s Facebook page identifies him as “Owner of Built to Last Plumbing &Solar” and “Past: Hells Angels and HAMC.” The social media page contains numerous Hells Angels-related posts.
Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Lee said afterward the reduced assault charge was for the stabbing of David Coombes and Alicia Jeremiah-Coombes is the victim in the terroristic threatening charge. Both charges are Class C felonies punishable by up to five years imprisonment.
Gibson faced a possible life sentence with the possibility of parole if convicted on the attempted murder charge.
Lee said the state agreed not to seek consecutive prison terms for Gibson but will argue for five-year concurrent prison terms, while Gibson is free to argue for probation.
“Based on what we have, based on the case itself, both Mr. and Mrs. Coombes and myself feel this is the best thing for everybody at this point, give them a chance to work toward closure,” Lee said. “This case has been around for a little while. It’s something we can all live with.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
