Kona officer suspected in killing resigns

Advertiser Staff

HILO, Hawai'i — A Kona police detective accused of killing his wife resigned from his job this week. Police Chief Jimmy Correa accepted Albert Pacheco's resignation effective Wednesday.

Pacheco, 45, has been held without bail since his arrest following the Jan. 4 shooting death of Cathalene Ann Pacheco, 42, near the estranged couple's Waikoloa Village home. Police said he rammed his wife's van with his car, then shot her numerous times in the head.

Pacecho served 10 years with the Honolulu Police Department and the past 11 with the Hawai'i County police force.

Meanwhile, deputy public defender Melody Parker has asked to be excused as Pacheco's attorney because of a potential conflict of interest, since the former police detective investigated a number of pending criminal cases involving public defender clients.

A hearing on her request is scheduled for Feb. 20 before Judge Greg Nakamura. If a new attorney is needed, it would likely delay Pacheco's trial, now set for May 13.