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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, August 6, 2008

HILO
Woman accused of ID theft cleared of charges

A daughter of Big Island County Councilwoman Emily Naeole has been cleared of all charges in connection with an identity theft case on the Big island, according to Circuit Court records.

On July 29 Big Island Deputy Prosecutor Rick Damerville filed a motion to dismiss charges against Malama Naeole, also known as Malama Valentino, "for the reason that Malama Valentino is not guilty of these offenses."

"The case was brought on what has been determined to be an honest but mistaken eyewitness identification that was compounded by the real perpetrator's familiarity with and unauthorized use of identification information belonging to Malama Valentino," Damerville said in the filing. "To the extent that this case has been stressful to Mrs. Valentino and her family, the undersigned deputy prosecuting attorney expresses his sympathy for Malama Valentino and the Valentino and Naeole families."

Valentino, 26, was indicted by a Big island grand jury last November on theft charges as well as second-degree identity theft and fraudulent use of a credit card.