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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 6:24 p.m., Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Puna home-invasion suspect has initial court appearance

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Ama H. Salas

Courtesy of Hawai‘i County police

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A Puna man charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony and four counts of unlawful imprisonment related to the abduction of three adult males and a juvenile female last November in Puna made his initial appearance today at South Hilo District Court.

Ama H. Salas, 18, was charged yesterday by Big Island police and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail pending a preliminary hearing later this week.

Police last week identified two other suspects in the Nov. 24, 2007, Hawaiian Acres subdivision home-invasion case.

Sven D. Cruz, 24, of Kurtistown surrendered to police April 3 and Darren Joao, 22, was arrested the next day. Both were released pending further investigation for possible indictment at a later date in connection with the home-invasion case. Joao, however, is being held on a no-bail revocation of probation warrant.

According to police, three to five men — two carrying firearms — forced their way into a home and demanded what police described as "specific property" from the residents. When the victims were unable to produce the property, the suspects forced them out of the house and into one of the victims' vehicles, police said.

After driving through the subdivision for a short time in the victim's car with the remaining suspects following in a truck, the juvenile was removed from the car and sexually assaulted by one of the suspects.

The three male victims were later released uninjured while the girl was treated at Hilo Medical Center.