Suspect could face trial as adult

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

A Family Court judge will decide next month if a 17-year-old boy will be tried as an adult in connection with the shooting of a Punchbowl man during a burglary last week.

Senior Family Court Judge Frances Wong today also ordered Miti "Junior" Maugaotega Jr. held at Hale Ho'omalu, the Alder Street juvenile detention facility, until the Aug. 27 waiver hearing.

Maugaotega is charged as a juvenile with attempted murder, burglary, two firearms and two drug offenses in connection with the shooting of Eric Kawamoto Thursday at his Punchbowl home.

If convicted of those charges as an adult, Maugaotega would face a life sentence with the possibility of parole.

Police also are investigating Maugaotega's possible involvement in a June 23 break-in on Kanunu Street in which a 57-year-old woman was robbed and pistol-whipped, police sources said.

Maugaotega also is being investigated in connection with a June 16 home-invasion robbery on Waikahalulu Lane in which a gun was used, and several burglaries in the Pawa'a area.

Police sources said the .45-caliber pistol apparently used in the Kawamoto shooting had not been reported stolen. The registered owner of the gun reportedly told police he thought he had lost it.

Senior deputy prosecuting attorney Jennifer Ching argued today that Maugaotega is a threat to the community because of the seriousness of his alleged crimes has escalated.

In 1999, Ching said, Maugaotega broke into a store and stole a camera. Three months later, at age 15, he stole a chain and money from a fellow student.

Also, Maugaotega, who was ordered to return to American Samoa in 1999 by the Family Court and forbidden from returning to Hawai'i until his 18th birthday, violated that order by returning three months ago. Maugaotega will celebrate his 18th birthday on Sept. 29.

Police said yesterday that Maugaotega had crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," on him when he was arrested after the Punchbowl shooting and burglary.

Maugaotega had "more than a user quantity of ice" and an ice pipe when he was arrested in a stream near Hawai'i Baptist Academy in Nu'uanu, police Capt. Carlton Nishimura said.

Nishimura said Maugaotega told police he had smoked marijuana just before entering the Puowaina Drive home of 43-year-old Kawamoto, who was shot once in the chest.

Maugaotega's attorney could not be reached for comment yesterday, but his sister, Darlene Maugaotega, said family members were shocked by the shooting and reports that he was found with ice.

The sister, 19, said she didn't know that her brother was involved with drugs, but that might explain the charges that he broke into a home and shot Kawamoto.

"That was not my brother," she said. "It had to be the drugs."

The sister said she and her family apologize to Kawamoto, but she said she realizes "that won't take the scar away."

According to police, Miti Maugaotega shot Kawamoto when Kawamoto interrupted the burglary. Kawamoto remains at The Queen's Medical Center.

The brazen daylight shooting has been cited by police and prosecutors as an example of escalating property crimes on O'ahu. They are calling for tougher sentences for repeat offenders.

Police yesterday said they had no evidence to suggest that the teenager had an accomplice.

Darlene Maugaotega described her brother as quiet and well-liked by family members, especially by his younger nieces and nephews.

"He's a real family person," the sister said. "All his nieces and nephews love him, and they've been missing him since he's been gone."

But the teenager is no stranger to the juvenile facility on Alder Street where he has been held since his arrest, Elisapeta Maposua said of her brother's son.

In the past, his sister said, some of Miti Maugaotega's friends had gotten him involved in criminal activities, but the shooting was out of character for him.

"I think he panicked. He probably got scared," his sister said.

She said her brother told a relative that Kawamoto wouldn't leave him alone. "Miti said, 'The man said shoot me if you are going to,' " his sister said.