KAILUA-KONA — A man and a woman arrested this week for unrelated offenses are being charged with arson in connection with a deliberately set fire at a Kona courthouse. ADVERTISING KAILUA-KONA — A man and a woman arrested this week
KAILUA-KONA — A man and a woman arrested this week for unrelated offenses are being charged with arson in connection with a deliberately set fire at a Kona courthouse.
Randi-Keli Banagan, 24, of Captain Cook and Kainoa Lindo, 22, of Honaunau are each charged with first-degree arson, conspiracy to commit arson, first-degree criminal property damage and first-degree terroristic threatening.
Banagan is additionally charged with revocation of probation, as she was on probation from a 2014 Holualoa shooting.
Lindo also is charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle for allegedly driving a stolen truck seen at the location of the alleged arson.
The fire occurred at 6:59 a.m. March 3 at the Big Island Drug Court, the same day Banagan was scheduled to be resentenced on a probation violation. Passers-by put the fire out using fire extinguishers before first responders arrived. Two employees were inside the building when the fire was set, but no injuries were reported.
Banagan was on probation in connection with a 2014 case where she shot a man in the chest. The case was initially assigned to Judge Elizabeth Strance, who sentenced Banagan to 18 months in prison and five years in probation. Upon her retirement, the case went to Judge Melvin Fujino.
During her probation violation hearing, Banagan admitted to using meth and posted a $5,000 bond through a bond company.
The fire was against the door that leads directly into the staff offices and the judge’s chambers. There is a single door leading into those rooms, instead of the metal detector and other security apparatuses on the main door.
The door was replaced the same day as the fire. However, the walls still have a curve of the smoke that reaches almost to the roof.
Investigators determined the people in a pickup truck and sedan seen in the courthouse parking lot were responsible for the fire. The pickup was stolen Jan. 29 from an apartment complex on Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona.
The truck was recovered March 8 in Hookena. Police issued a release March 10 saying they were looking for Lindo.
On Sunday, Lindo and Banagan were involved in a gun threat at the scenic overlook on Kamehameha III Road, police said.
There, Banagan reportedly got out of a van and pointed a black handgun at a 17-year-old girl, police allege, while the girl was with another 17-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy. The teenagers saw Lindo in the van, police said, holding what looked like a rifle. The two suspects then fled the area without other incidents.
Lindo and Banagan were arrested separately Monday.
Lindo’s bail was set at $810,000. Banagan’s was set at $1 million. Both remain at the cellblock pending their initial court appearance scheduled for today.
Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.
