Crapser enters not guilty pleas in hatchet robbery

A 25-year-old Ocean View woman Tuesday entered not guilty pleas to a slew of charges stemming from a Jan. 26 robbery involving a hatchet on South Point Road in Ka‘u.

Trinety S. Crapser pleaded not guilty to first-degree robbery, second-degree attempted assault, third-degree assault, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and attempted unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle before 3rd Circuit Court Chief Judge Ronald Ibarra.

Ibarra set trial for Crapser at 9 a.m. June 3.

Ibarra also maintained bail for Crapser at $72,000. However, that could change because Ibarra ordered an updated bail study after Crapser’s public defender, Peter Bresciani, argued during the hearing the judge reduce the bail to $25,000. The bail study is due within one week.

During a Jan. 31 preliminary hearing in 3rd Circuit District Court, the victim, Trudi Grentz, testified Crapser waved a 15-inch hatchet with a 7-inch blade above her head and demanded possession of her purple Corvette on South Point Road.

Grentz told the court she parked the vehicle but left it running while placing signs along the roadway, when a white car headed north on the road passed her, turned around and headed south on the road before coming to a stop in the roadway near the Corvette.

Crapser then allegedly got out, walked around the Corvette and demanded possession of the vehicle.

A scuffle ensued with Grentz gaining control of the hatchet and throwing it in the bushes.

Crapser then hopped into the Corvette, but was unable to start it. Grentz also testified Crapser bit her on her right arm and pulled her hair while the two struggled for possession of the car keys.

During the “few-minute” struggle, Grentz said a man, later identified as 23-year-old Kainoa Kahele-Bishop, exited from the passenger side of the white vehicle and reached into the passenger side of the Corvette and removed a large bag containing a laptop, cellphone, wallet and jewelry-making tools and supplies. The man then fled in the white car, heading southbound on South Point Road.

The two women continued to struggle until another man arrived at the scene. While waiting for police, Crapser reportedly fled. Police investigation subsequently led to the identity and arrest of Crapser on Jan. 27 and Kahele-Bishop on Jan. 30.

Kahele-Bishop, also of Ocean View, is slated for an arraignment and plea hearing Feb. 19 in connection with the Jan. 26 robbery as well as another reported earlier in that day.

During that hearing, Kahele-Bishop will enter pleas to first-degree robbery involving a dangerous instrument and force, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, second-degree theft, second-degree robbery involving threatened force, second-degree terroristic threatening, and third-degree theft, according to court records.

Third Circuit Ka‘u District Court Judge Andrew Wilson on Feb. 5 found probable cause to transfer the charges to 3rd Circuit Court for trial. He also maintained bail for Kahele-Bishop at $98,000.

The charges stem from two Jan. 26 reported robberies on South Point Road, according to court records.

The first-degree robbery, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and second-degree theft charges stem from the robbery that occurred about 9 a.m. on South Point Road in which Kahele-Bishop reportedly accompanied Crapser.

The charges of second-degree robbery, second-degree terroristic threatening and third-degree theft against Kahele-Bishop stem from a robbery that occurred at South Point earlier Jan. 26, according to court records.

According to police, a 48-year-old Ocean View man, who recognized Kahele-Bishop’s picture in a press release, reported he was robbed by the same man while fishing at South Point.

In that case, the 48-year-old reported he was confronted, threatened with bodily harm and robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash. Court records said the amount was greater than $100.

Police charged Kahele-Bishop with the offenses Jan. 31.

Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensenwesthawaiitoday.com.