Ex-con pleads innocent in Waikiki woman's death
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
Donald Barry Marks yesterday pleaded not guilty in the Nov. 2 death of a woman in Waikiki and his trial is scheduled for the week of Jan. 13.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
Marks, who is charged with second-degree murder, is being held at the O'ahu Community Correctional Center in lieu of $1 million bail. Marks, 39, is accused of slaying Yoko Sanders, who was strangled. Prosecutors argued for the high bail on grounds that Marks is a danger to the community and is a flight risk.
Donald Marks, partially out of frame at right, pleaded not guilty to murder via video from OCCC. His lawyer, at left, is Jerry Villanueva.
In August 1991, Marks was charged with three counts of first-degree sexual assault, one count of third-degree sexual assault and kidnapping related to an attack on a 13-year-old girl. While free on $40,000 bail, Marks was arrested by federal authorities and taken to California to be tried for an offense unrelated to the rape.
In June 1994, Marks pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault. In exchange for his plea, the other 1991 charges were dropped.
Marks was sentenced to 10 years in prison and with credit for time served, he was released in September 1998. He was sent back to prison the following year for violating conditions of his parole and was released from the Halawa Correctional Facility six months ago.
Marks has been renting a fifth-floor unit at a private condominium building at 2509 Ala Wai Blvd. for several months. Sanders' body was discovered in a unit on the same floor.
