County lets federal court on O'ahu handle Maui airport fire incident
By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer
A Maui man accused of driving his sport utility vehicle into the lobby of Kahului Airport and setting it on fire made his first appearance in federal court yesterday.
Looking somewhat fatigued, Paul S. Blatchley appeared in the Honolulu courtroom to answer to a charge of disrupting airport operations and endangering airport safety. He wore a teal T-shirt, blue jeans and leather sandals and calmly read through court papers concerning his case.
Paul Blatchley made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Honolulu yesterday.
After reading a financial statement signed by Blatchley, U.S. Magistrate Leslie Kobayashi approved his request to be represented by a federal deputy public defender, Shanlyn Park.
Blatchley, 52, was initially charged by Maui police with attempted first-degree murder and first-degree criminal property damage. But a decision was made to fly Blatchley to Honolulu to face the federal charge, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Johnson, who heads the violent-crimes prosecution section of the U.S. attorney's office in Honolulu.
Maui County Prosecutor John Tam said the county will be dismissing charges for now to allow the federal case to proceed, but could revive the charges later.
No one was hurt in the bizarre incident Sunday, which caused about $10,000 in damage to the airport.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Porter, who is handling the case against Blatchley, said the section of the federal code that Blatchley is accused of violating carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
The actual prison sentence Blatchley may face if he pleads guilty or is convicted of the federal offense could be less than 20 years. Kaua'i resident Lloyd Albinio, who threatened workers at the Lih'ue Airport and fired bullets into the ceiling there in June, faced a potential sentence of life in federal prison without parole but was eventually given a term of three years and one month.
At yesterday's hearing, Deputy Public Defender Park told Kobayashi that Blatchley understood the charges against him. The next court appearance will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday before U.S. Magistrate Barry Kurren to decide whether Blatchley can be released on bail.
Reach David Waite at 525-8030 or at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com.
