The cases of all six defendants who allegedly took part in the June 12 beating of three teenage boys at a Keaukaha beach park have had their cases moved from Hilo District Court to Hilo Circuit Court.
Lanakila Poaha, 45, of Hilo, was indicted July 5 by a Hilo grand jury. He’s facing the most serious charges among six adults accused of the violent affray that occurred at about 6:45 p.m. that evening at James Kealoha Beach Park, also known as “Four Mile.”
The five-count indictment charged Poaha with second-degree robbery, second-degree theft, third-degree assault, disorderly conduct and second-degree property damage.
The strong-arm robbery charge — the most serious charge, a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment upon conviction — is for the alleged forcible ripping of a 14-karat gold chain off the neck of one of the juveniles, a 17-year-old boy. The boy was taken to Hilo Medical Center emergency room, where he was treated for lacerations to his forehead, left shoulder and left ear, and a bruised and swollen right eye.
The property damage charge — a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison upon conviction — is for damage to the 2015 Honda Civic sedan the victims were sitting in, owned by Michael Caputo, the father of the teenage girlfriend of one of the boys.
The driver had left the car to go to the restroom when the assault took place, according to the teenage girl’s mother, Astania Caputo.
A cellphone video taken by a bystander, which made the rounds on social media, shows the assailants swarming the car, with one of the attackers bashing out the rear windshield of the car with a baseball bat.
In addition to the broken windshield, damage to the car includes a flat tire and multiple dents, police said.
A bench warrant with the indictment set Poaha’s bail at $47,000, $10,000 more than the $37,000 bail Poaha had been freed on in Hilo District Court.
Poaha pleaded not guilty to all charges on July 10. Hilo Circuit Judge Peter Kubota set a Sept. 5 court date for further proceedings at the request of Deputy Public Defender Kenji Akamu — an indication plea negotiations might be underway.
Kubota also reduced Poaha’s bail back to the original $37,000 and freed him at the end of the arraignment hearing.
The others, none of whom had been arraigned in Hilo Circuit Court as of early Friday afternoon, were charged via information complaint — a charging document filed by prosecutors that require a judge to review and approve. They are:
• Cy Poaha, 21, of Hilo, the son of Lanakila Poaha, was charged July 13 with two counts each of first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and third-degree assault, plus a single count of disorderly conduct. His bail was set at $34,000, which is $10,000 more than he posted in Hilo District Court.
• Joshua Godbolt, 40, of Kurtistown was charged July 13 with two counts each of first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and third-degree assault, plus single counts of disorderly conduct and second-degree property damage. His bail was set at $34,000, which is $10,000 more than he posted in Hilo District Court.
• Alize Godbolt, 18, of Kurtistown, the son of Joshua Godbolt, was charged July 12 with first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, two counts of third-degree assault plus single counts of first- and second-degree property damage and disorderly conduct. His bail was set at $49,000, which is $10,000 more than he posted in Hilo District Court.
• Justin Godbolt-Agustin, 24, of Kurtistown, the son of Joshua Godbolt, was charged July 13 with first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, third-degree assault, disorderly conduct and second-degree property damage. His bail was set at $22,000, which is $10,000 more than he posted in Hilo District Court.
• Micah Castro, 21, of Keaau was charged July 12 by information complaint with first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, third-degree assault, disorderly conduct and second-degree property damage. His bail was set at $22,000, which is $10,000 more than he posted in Hilo District Court.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.