KEALAKEKUA — The woman accused of convincing a man to burn the Big Island Drug Court and threatening three teenagers prior to the attempted arson will faces charges for both crimes. ADVERTISING KEALAKEKUA — The woman accused of convincing a
KEALAKEKUA — The woman accused of convincing a man to burn the Big Island Drug Court and threatening three teenagers prior to the attempted arson will faces charges for both crimes.
In the arson, case Randi-Keli Banagan, 24, of Captain Cook was charged Thursday with first-degree arson, conspiracy to commit first-degree arson and two counts of terroristic threatening stemming from the March 3 incident. She is charged with two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening for the second incident.
Kainoa Lindo also is charged in the courthouse arson. Their cases split early, as James Bivien, Banagan’s defense counsel, requested a mental health examination for his client.
District Court Judge Margaret Masunaga granted the motion.
The man she allegedly convinced to burn the courthouse, Lindo, already had his part of the arson case advance to circuit court. He also allegedly was present during the threatening that preceded the arson by a few days.
“Randi was the one who put Kainoa up to burn that courthouse,” said Shivonne “Kaylie” Kahee, Lindo’s girlfriend, in a recorded statement to police.
During Lindo’s recent preliminary hearing, the prosecution presented evidence alleging Banagan convinced Lindo to light the building on fire because she did not want to go to prison on a probation violation. She was on probation for shooting a man in the chest, a charge that was pleaded down because of her mental health, according to her defense.
The state sought an indictment on the charges, which the grand jury granted. Banagan was scheduled for a mental health hearing Wednesday, which was canceled when the district court charges were discharged.
The indictment led to her arrest and appearance in circuit court Thursday.
The case will be heard by Maui Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo, as all the Big Island judges recused themselves from the case. Thursday’s proceeding was an arraignment and plea hearing. She entered a not guilty plea, with a pretrial conference set for June 29 in both cases.
Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.
