Man pleads guilty in Kailua attack

Advertiser Staff

A second man has pleaded guilty to kidnapping in an attack last August on an 82-year-old Kailua woman.

Kawika Crites-Burgess pleaded guilty on Wednesday to robbery and burglary charges in the Aug. 21 break-in at the woman's home, but went on trial on the kidnapping count, claiming it was his co-defendant who handcuffed the elderly woman, Crites-Burgess' lawyer said.

Crites-Burgess, 20, and Evan Lowther, 19, broke into the woman's house as she slept, authorities say. The woman was awakened and grabbed a flashlight and baseball bat, but was knocked down, handcuffed and told not to move as her house was ransacked. Her wrist was broken in the attack.

As part of a plea agreement, Lowther pleaded guilty to robbery, burglary and kidnapping. Crites-Burgess on Thursday also pleaded guilty to kidnapping.

The two men face up to 20 years in prison. Although minimum terms of three years and four months will apply for the robbery and burglary charges for a crime against an elderly person, the state agreed not to seek the higher minimum of six years and eight months on the kidnapping counts. Crites-Burgess' attorney, Myles Breiner, said it was a fair resolution to the charges.