Posted on: Friday, August 10, 2001

Golfer guilty of felony assault in softball stadium case

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Amy Taniguchi watches as Daniel Copperud is found guilty of felony assault for hitting golf balls into the UH softball stadium, hitting Taniguchi in the mouth last February. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

A former University of Hawai'i student was found guilty today of felony assault for hitting a golf ball that struck an Iolani School softball player in the mouth during a game in February.

Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto found Daniel Copperud, 20, guilty of one count of second-degree assault. Copperud, who is in his hometown in Minnesota, faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced by Sakamoto Nov. 20.

Copperud never denied hitting two golf balls from the rear of the Johnston Hall dormitory on Dole Street, which overlooks the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. He said his intent was to reach the stadium, which is about 250 yards away.

One of the balls struck Iolani softball player Amy Taniguchi in the mouth while she was standing in the dugout waiting to bat. Iolani was in the semifinals of the state softball tournament.

The blow knocked out one of Taniguchi's teeth, loosened others, and forced her dentist to place braces on her upper teeth. A temporary tooth also was inserted to replace the missing tooth.

Taniguchi testified at the trial that she continues to suffer pain and she has a difficult time eating.

In his ruling today, Sakamoto said Copperud acted recklessly when he hit the two golf balls. Sakamoto said the defendant knew that a game was being played at the softball stadium and someone could have been seriously injured.

"This is not just a case of a lost tooth," Sakamoto said.

The judge said Copperud needed to hit the ball very hard to reach the stadium. Sakamoto said the ball became a "projectile" that struck Taniguchi with "alarming and dangerous force."

Had Taniguchi not been wearing a retainer on her teeth, Sakamoto said, she may have suffered even more serious injuries.

Victor Bakke, Copperud's attorney, said Sakamoto showed sympathy to Taniguchi and did not follow the law. He said Taniguchi suffered "substantial bodily injuries," not serious bodily injuries, and Bakke said Copperud should have been convicted of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

Bakke said he will appeal the verdict.

"Unfortunately this has been a witch hunt from the very beginning and I hope the Supreme Court doesn't believe in witches also," Bakke said.

Taniguchi, an incoming freshman at the University of Hawai'i, did not want to comment after the verdict. But city Deputy Prosecutor Wayne Tashima said she was satisfied with the verdict.

Tashima said he will ask Sakamoto to sentence Copperud some prison time, but he wasn't sure for how long.