A 40-year-old homeless man was charged Saturday with second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of 61-year-old Percy Baker, whose partially decomposed body was found wrapped in a blanket in his Sunset Beach home at 58-038 Kamehameha Highway on June 2.

Anthony P. Mercado was arraigned today at District Court. He is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail.

Baker died of stab wounds to the chest.

Mercado admitted killing Baker to friends of the victim on June 3 and another homeless man on May 28, according to a police report.

Man held in sex assaults of girls

A 22-year-old 'Aina Haina man was charged Saturday with sexual assaults involving young girls. Daniel Sia is being held in lieu of $95,000 bail.

He is accused of two counts of first-degree sex assault, four counts of third-degree sex assault and two counts of first-degree child abuse. One victim, 13, was allegedly assaulted between July and August 2003. Another girl, 16, was allegedly attacked on Wednesday.

Charges filed in drive-by shooting

Big Island police charged a 48-year-old Puna man with attempted murder and two firearm offenses stemming from a Jan. 7, 2002, drive-by shooting in Kapoho. Melody "Lando" Ancheta was charged Thursday and is being held without bail at the Hilo police cellblock.