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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Public school custodians to be arraigned on meth charges

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two public school custodians accused of dealing crystal methamphetamine will be arraigned March 29 at Circuit Court.

Anna Budinger, a Kaimuki High School custodian for eight years, and her boyfriend, Scott P. Ishihara, a custodian at Nu'uanu Elementary, are charged with second- and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both were charged by information Sunday, bypassing the process requiring a preliminary hearing for warrantless arrests at District Court. Bail for each is $20,000. Ishihara, 46, was released after posting bail; Budinger, 50, is still in custody.

The arrests stem from an undercover operation conducted by the East Honolulu police district Crime Reduction Unit with assistance of Waikiki CRU, said Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Yu.

Budinger, 50, was arrested at 7:30 a.m. Friday at Kaimuki High School after she allegedly sold crystal meth to undercover officers.

According to police, Budinger allegedly sold crystal meth out of her car and on campus. Officers allegedly made more than one buy from her, police said.

Police arrested Ishihara at 8:45 a.m. Friday at Nu'uanu Elementary.

It was not clear if any of the alleged drug sales involved students.

State Education Department spokesman Greg Knudsen said Budinger has been placed on leave without pay pending investigation. Ishihara will be placed on leave without pay when his current vacation is up.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.