A plea deal is in the works for a 39-year-old Hilo man charged with breaking into a Hilo home Jan. 11 and restraining a woman.
A plea deal is in the works for a 39-year-old Hilo man charged with breaking into a Hilo home Jan. 11 and restraining a woman.
Chadwick “Chad” K. Thomas pleaded not guilty Monday to kidnapping, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and third-degree sexual assault.
Thomas appeared in custody in lieu of $70,000 bail. He answered a series of standard questions from Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura calmly with “yes, Your Honor” and “no, Your Honor.”
Thomas’ attorney, Deputy Public Defender Jeff Ng, requested a reduction in bail, and said as part of the contemplated plea deal the kidnapping charge, a Class A felony, will be reduced to a misdemeanor unlawful imprisonment charge, and the sexual assault charge, a Class C felony, will be dropped.
Deputy Prosecutor Lucas Burns objected to any reduction in bail for Thomas, who fought as a heavyweight in local mixed martial arts shows.
“The state notes that Mr. Thomas has not yet changed his plea,” Burns told the judge.
Nakamura maintained Thomas’ bail and ordered him to return to court at 8:30 a.m. March 10. He also ordered Thomas to undergo mental health and substance abuse assessments and to follow through on any recommended treatment.
Thomas, who has no prior felony convictions, still faces a possible 10-year prison term on the burglary charge. Because of the plea negotiations, no trial date was set.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.