By JOHN BURNETT
Tribune-Herald staff writer
It’s certainly a crime of passion, and perhaps copycat copulation, as well.
Kona police have arrested and charged a homeless man and woman for allegedly having sex outdoors fronting a homeless shelter and mental health clinic on Pawai Place in Kailua-Kona.
Police say Jassen Kahoohuli Bento, 36, and Jeanette Trumper, 35, were caught in the act at 4:40 p.m. Sunday in the old Kona Industrial Area. Both reportedly gave bogus names during booking — Bento using “Jason Kanuha-Bento” and Trumper calling herself “Cynthia Lynn Schillereff.” Both were charged with open lewdness, a petty misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Bail for both was set at $250, with initial appearances Monday in Kona District Court.
As of Tuesday, Bento was still in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center, while Trumper was no longer in custody.
The case is the third time in the past three months Big Island police have made arrests for doing what comes naturally in the great outdoors. Both of the previous cases involve alleged serial public lothario, 35-year-old Dylan Trask Whelden.
On July 16, Whelden and 33-year-old Margaret Manza of Kailua-Kona were allegedly engaged in sidewalk sex fronting a Kaiwi Street business building in the old Kona Industrial Area when they were arrested shortly after 4 p.m.
A police spokeswoman said at the time that Manza spit and cursed at one of the arresting officers.
Whelden was charged with open lewdness, while Manza was charged with open lewdness, disorderly conduct, harassment and theft.
The theft charge was for allegedly stealing a $2 blouse from the Salvation Army Ohana Thrift Store. In addition, she was charged with contempt of court and failure to appear.
Their cases was adjudicated in Kona District Court, but records were unavailable on Tuesday.
Then on Aug. 18, Whelden and 45-year-old Yvette R. Butterfield were arrested in the early afternoon while engaged in sexual intercourse on the Bayfront soccer field extension on Kamehameha Avenue near Ponahawai Street near downtown Hilo.
The soccer field is a county public park and a police spokeswoman said there were other parkgoers present at the time.
Whelden pleaded no contest to an open lewdness charge on Aug. 20 and was sentenced to 30 days jail time. Butterfield also pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 10 days in jail.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
