A 51-year-old Kurtistown man was sentenced Monday to 18 months in jail for an armed confrontation 10 months ago in Hawaiian Acres in which he threatened to shoot three people.
Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura also sentenced William James Chase to four years probation. Chase pleaded guilty April 27 to first-degree burglary and first-degree terroristic threatening for the incident, which occurred Aug. 7 at an Uau Street home. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped another first-degree terroristic threatening charge, as well as a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
First-degree burglary is a Class B felony and carries a possible 10-year prison term. Chase was jailed following his arrest Aug. 11 and will receive credit for time served.
According to court documents, Charissa Love, then 44, told police Chase entered her home without permission at about 7:45 p.m. Aug. 7, brandishing a black Glock handgun.
Chase allegedly placed the barrel of the gun on Manuel Arruda’s lips, according to witnesses, including Chase’s then 17-year-old stepson.
Documents state Chase told the home’s occupants, “I’m going to shoot you all if she doesn’t tell the truth.” The witnesses reportedly told officers the “she” is Chase’s wife, Kimberly Rees, whom the witnesses said was on the phone discussing the couple’s marital issues.
Chase was the subject of an all-points bulletin and manhunt by police after the incident. Chase called the Tribune-Herald Aug. 11 prior to being taken into custody and said he thought his wife and the previously mentioned stepson allowed the Uau Road home’s residents to take his belongings while he was in jail for a probation violation between July 31 and Aug. 3.
He admitted going to the home, but said he did so to reclaim his property and denied being armed.
Police didn’t recover a firearm when Chase was arrested, but Capt. Robert Wagner of the Criminal Investigation Division said in August there was “enough probable cause” to charge him with the firearms offense.
Nakamura ordered Chase to undergo anger management assessment, mental health assessment and substance abuse assessment and follow any treatment recommendations. The judge also ordered Chase to stay away from Love, Arruda and the stepson.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
