A 43-year-old Hawaiian Paradise Park man remains hospitalized after being restrained, stabbed and slashed, and severely beaten with nunchucks by an acquaintance early Friday evening at the victim’s home.
Ocean Hegent, a 31-year-old Pahoa man, is charged with kidnapping and first- and second-degree assault for the incident described in court documents filed by police as a “heated verbal dispute turned physical.”
Police Capt. Rio Amon-Wilkins of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Division in Hilo said the victim was driven to a fire station in a private vehicle, where he received emergency treatment before being taken by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center.
According to a document signed by a Hilo Medical Center physician, the victim suffered a broken nose, a sinus fracture, a fractured eye socket, tendon lacerations and other lacerations.
According to the victim and another witness, Hegent bound the victim’s arms with rope to a 5-gallon propane tank, documents state.
Hegent then allegedly punched and kicked the victim, hit the man in the face with nunchucks, threw a chair that hit the victim in the back, and stabbed and slashed the man on the left shin and left ankle. Hegent also allegedly caused a severe tendon laceration to the man’s inner left wrist.
Amon-Wilkins said the victim is awaiting consultation with a specialist for the wrist laceration.
Police obtained a search warrant for the 18th Avenue property. According to documents, they recovered a 5-gallon propane tank with yellow nylon rope tied to it, three sets of nunchucks, three knives and a box cutter.
Blood and blood spatter also were found in the area where witnesses said the victim was bound.
Police say Hegent requested a lawyer and didn’t answer questions.
At Hegent’s initial court appearance, Hilo District Judge Bruce Larson denied a defense request to free Hegent on court-supervised release or to reduce his bail, and ordered Hegent to appear for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Hegent remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $85,000 bail.
The most serious offense, kidnapping, is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment. First- and second-degree assault are Class B and C felonies, respectively, which carry potential prison terms of 10 and five years.
Hegent was convicted in 2010 of second-degree robbery, a Class B felony, and was sentenced to five years of probation with 18 months of incarceration, according to court records.
Police ask potential witnesses to contact Detective Zenas Pacheco at (808) 961-2384 or Zenas.Pacheco@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
