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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, January 7, 2002

Kona officer charged in wife's slaying

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — A police detective was charged yesterday with second-degree murder and two other felonies in the shooting death of his wife in Waikoloa Village Friday evening.

Albert Pacheco is accused of shooting his wife in the head.

Hawai'i County Police Department

Detective Albert Pacheco, 45, will be arraigned in South Hilo District Court this afternoon on the murder count, first-degree property damage and first-degree terroristic threatening.

Pacheco, who had worked in the Honolulu Police Department for 10 years before joining the Big Island force 11 years ago, was held without bail last night at the Hilo police cell block.

Many questions remained unanswered yesterday on details of the shooting and the officer's relationship with his wife, Cathalene Ann Pacheco, 42.

Police Chief Jimmy Correa began yesterday's press conference at the Hilo police station by promising a "fair and objective investigation" to be led by Assistant Chief Wendell Paiva, Capt. James Day and Lt. Derek Pacheco, who is unrelated to the suspect.

All are based in Hilo to avoid any conflict for officers in Kona who worked with the police sergeant, officials said. He is the father of five.

The Pacheco case is the second in recent years in which a police sergeant has been accused of killing his wife. In 1992, Sgt. Kenneth Mathison was accused of running over and killing his wife, Yvonne, in Puna. He was convicted in 1995 and is serving a life term in a Minnesota prison.

Police said they have found no reports of domestic violence involving Albert Pacheco and his wife.

An autopsy was conducted at Hilo Medical Center yesterday by Honolulu forensic pathologist Dr. Alvin Omori, who said Cathalene Pacheco, a South Kohala real estate saleswoman, had "died of multiple gunshots wounds to the head." Police did not say whether the firearm recovered at the scene on a quiet Waikoloa Village street was Pacheco's service revolver.

Police said Pacheco was off duty when he drove his county-subsidized police car into his wife's van around 7 p.m. Friday before firing at her. The van was being examined by detectives last night.

Correa said the incident showed "we must work hard to prevent domestic violence."

Pacheco has retained attorney Brian De Lima of Hilo. The prosecution of the case has been assigned to senior deputy Michael Udovic.

Reach Hugh Clark at (808) 935-3916 or hclark@honoluluadvertiser.com.