Suspect, 39, indicted in hostage-holding

By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer

A 39-year-old man accused of terrorizing four people during a 14-hour hostage ordeal in a Chinatown apartment last week was indicted by the O'ahu grand jury yesterday on charges of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree sexual assault and kidnapping.

Circuit Judge Derrick Chan approved the prosecution's request to officially set bail for William D. Alston at $150,000. Alston is being held in lieu of bail.

The indictment sends the case to trial. Alston is expected to plead not guilty and get a trial date when he is arraigned later.

Alston is accused of holding his wife and three others at an 18th-floor apartment at 155 North Beretania St. in the early morning hours of May 2. He was arrested at about 3:45 in the afternoon.

In seeking approval for the $150,000 bail, city Deputy Prosecutor Vickie Kapp told Chan that Alston is considered dangerous.

Kapp said Alston got into an argument with his wife and tied her up as well as the three others.

Alston stabbed a man, doused him with alcohol and set him on fire, Kapp said. The second-degree attempted murder charge carries a mandatory life term with parole.

In addition, Alston forced a woman to engage in sex and forced her to drink alcohol and take cocaine, Kapp said.

Alston was on parole for a stolen car case. His criminal history includes terroristic threatening, drug and theft convictions. He is awaiting trial on a charge of abusing his wife, Kapp said.

City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle will be handling Alston's case, but does not have any comment about it at this time, office spokesman Jim Fulton said.

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