KEALAKEKUA — Bail was reimposed at $250,000 for an 18-year-old man accused of felony sex offenses, after reports of him violating bail conditions a second time.
On Tuesday morning, Samuel Latrik took the stand in Kona Circuit Court, disputing Hawaii Intake Service Center’s claims he violated bail conditions by leaving his home on two separate occasions while under electronic monitoring.
Judge Robert D.S. Kim added electronic monitoring to Latrik’s bail conditions Aug. 10 after the teen was brought to court for not checking in with his social worker on numerous occasions.
Latrik is one of two teens reportedly involved in a Sept. 3, 2016, attack at Old Kona Airport Park’s soccer field. The first suspect, 17-year-old Tyron Sigrah, was sentenced Tuesday to up to 20 years in prison for first-degree sexual assault, second-degree assault, kidnapping and second-degree robbery.
Latrik was arrested and charged in January after a grand jury indicted him. Prosecutors say Sigrah, who was 15 at the time, and Latrik, who was 17 at the time, detained the victim against her will, beat her and took turns raping her. The attack only stopped after a passing good Samaritan chased the boys off.
The victim was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where she was treated for a broken nose, an exacerbated back injury and badly bruised ribs.
During Tuesday’s bail status hearing, Jill Akuna, supervisor for pretrial at HISC, testified that she filed the second amended bail order. She explained that HISC contacted a Marshallese interpreter via phone who was able to go over the court order on electronic monitoring with Latrik as well as go over all the steps required.
Latrik was to consume no drugs or alcohol.
“Also, he was to remain in home as ordered by the judge unless pre-approved,” Akuna said.
According to HISC, Latrik was out of the house for six hours Aug. 22 and again for about two hours Sept. 5.
Akuna explained electronic monitors keep tabs on an individual by bouncing off cell towers. If the person goes outside the 500-foot range, the device automatically notifies HISC.
Akuna testified she spoke with Latrik about the first violation and he claimed he was at home. She added the unit was working properly.
During cross-examination, Latrik’s defense counselor, James Biven, asked Akuna about the process in issuing electronic monitors.
She explained to determine if Latrik qualified for the monitor, a site visit of his home was conducted to see what types of interference there could be with the device. In Latrik’s case, there was none detected.
Biven also questioned the scientific reliability of the electronic monitor.
Akuna testified that if the electronic monitor was malfunctioning there would have been numerous indications of false violations, not one or two.
Regarding the first violation, Latrik told the court he was home in his room, playing a game on his phone. For the second violation, Latrik testified that he was home and in his room.
Lawson again asked that the court grant the motion to revoke bail.
Biven didn’t disagree with the credibility of Akuna’s testimony, however the “defense is not convinced on the reliability of the machine.”
Kim sided with the state and revoked Latrik’s $25,000 bail and reimposed a $250,000 bail.
Latrik’s trial is slated to begin Oct. 23.
Email Tiffany DeMasters at tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com.
