Posted on: Thursday, December 23, 2004

Passenger charged with hiding blade

By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer

A Virginia man who was arrested Tuesday after Honolulu International Airport security officials said they found a 3-inch razor blade concealed in his shoe didn't know the blade was there and will be cleared of the criminal charge, his lawyer said yesterday.

Randall Rustick, 33, was charged yesterday with concealing a dangerous weapon. A conviction could net a prison term of up to 10 years in federal prison. He was released after signing a $10,000 signature bond set by federal Magistrate Leslie Kobayashi.

Rustick declined to comment as he left the federal courthouse, but his lawyers said he gave a statement to authorities and has been cooperating.

"We are very confident that the continuing investigation will result in him being exonerated," Rustick's lawyer Howard Luke said.

Rustick is the first person charged with a federal count of trying to board a plane with a dangerous weapon since the Transportation Security Administration began inspections in late 2002. Sidney Hayakawa, federal security chief at the airport, said Tuesday they didn't know what Rustick's intent was, but said "it's the concealment that was very disturbing."

Luke declined to disclose details such as what Rustick told authorities, how the blade got into the shoe or where he got the shoe, but Luke said the fact he was released on the signature bond suggests that he's not considered dangerous.

"He's as surprised as anyone else" about the blade, Luke said.

He said Rustick, who lived in Hawai'i previously, was on his way to Kaua'i with his wife and four children to visit his parents for a Christmas vacation.

Honolulu lawyer David Hayakawa, who also represents Rustick, said his client works for a computer technology company and does not have a criminal record. "He's a model citizen," Hayakawa said. "Co-workers are stunned. They support him. He's a great family man."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson said a person carrying a sharp weapon in his shoe is "obviously a serious situation." "Our investigation is going to continue until we have a good feel for whether or not (Rustick) knew there was a weapon his shoe," he said.

Although Rustick is "emotionally distraught," Luke said he's encouraging him to go to Kaua'i and continue his vacation.

"I hope I can get him a pair of shoes to wear because he doesn't have one right now," Luke said.

A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 11.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at 525-8030 or kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.