A Hilo judge on Friday more than doubled the bail for a domestic violence suspect.
Hilo Circuit Judge Kanani Laubach increased bail for 34-year-old Jason Vigilla of Pahoa from $114,500 to $262,000, noting that Vigilla was freed on supervised release — a form of cashless bail — five weeks earlier with the condition of no threats or harm to the same complainant.
Vigilla is charged with second-degree robbery, attempted second-degree assault, first-degree terroristic threatening, fourth-degree property damage and two counts of domestic abuse.
According to court documents filed by police, Vigilla’s 59-year-old girlfriend told officers that at about noon on June 27, she was in the shower at their Hoopili Street home after telling Vigilla she was leaving for Hilo and in the process of packing her belongings. While taking a shower, the woman heard Vigilla damaging property inside the house and noted that Vigilla had used a couch to block her.
The woman reportedly told officers that she came out of the shower naked and attempted to communicate with Vigilla, whom she said was in possession of a kitchen knife — which police later recovered as evidence.
The victim told police Vigilla threw the knife at her, and she moved to keep from getting hit. The knife reportedly struck a wall, causing a scratch. She told Vigilla, falsely, she had already called police to report the incident, and he moved the couch so she was no longer blocked by it.
The woman went to the bedroom and argued with Vigilla — who allegedly threw her down on the bed, took her cellphone and threw it out a window, damaging the phone, and used his hands to cover her mouth to keep her from crying out. The victim told police that she bit one of Vigilla’s fingers and he slapped her face, according to the documents.
Police arrived shortly thereafter, having been summoned by neighbors, who reported to police they heard a heated verbal argument punctuated by items being slammed, thrown and broken within the house, the documents state.
Vigilla denied having slapped the woman, but allegedly admitted to about 150 incidents of domestic violence in the three years he and the victim were together. He reportedly told police there have been about 10 incidents where he used a significant amount of violence. He allegedly described that as “getting in good hits” on the victim.
Vigilla returned to court Tuesday and waived a preliminary hearing. Laubach ordered him to appear for arraignment and plea on July 16 before Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto, and maintained Vigilla’s bail at $262,000.
The most serious offense, second-degree robbery, is a Class B felony that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment upon conviction.
Vigilla remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
