A 33-year-old homeless man who stabbed a husband and wife about 7 1/2 months ago in a Hilo park was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison and ordered to pay restitution of more than $4,200 for the husband’s medical expenses.
Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara told David Lester Bars he poses “a potential danger to the community” while sentencing Bars for two counts of second-degree assault. Bars pleaded guilty to the charges in November.
Bars originally was charged with attempted second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole, for the stabbing of 27-year-old Myreon Nau-Fikes shortly after midnight June 20 at Wailoa State Recreation Area.
Nau-Fikes, who was stabbed in the neck, was admitted to Hilo Medical Center in serious condition and underwent surgery for his wound. He since has recovered. According to court documents, emergency room physician Dr. Judith Fitzgerald said his injury could have been fatal.
Nau-Fikes’ 24-year-old wife, Anastasha Nau-Fikes, was treated and released for a stab wound to the leg sustained while interceding on her husband’s behalf.
“I think you were given a big break in your plea bargain,” the judge told Bars. “It could have easily been … assault in the first-degree because of the use of the knife and the nature of the injuries involved.”
Stanton Oshiro, Bars’ court-appointed attorney, said by pleading guilty his client “has taken responsibility for his actions.”
“Mr. Bars could have made a self-defense argument …,” Oshiro told the judge. “We’re not commenting on the strength or the relative weakness of that argument, simply that he could have made it.”
Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Lee asked Hara to honor the plea deal but disputed Oshiro’s statement about what might have occurred at the park.
“The state believes that the evidence would have shown beyond a reasonable doubt that this is not a case of self defense, nor was it a case of defense of others, as the defendant has previously argued,” Lee said.
When asked if he wanted to make a statement, Bars declined.
Hara noted Bars’ size, 6 feet 2 inches tall and 230 pounds. Told by Oshiro that Myreon Nau-Fikes is even larger, the judge commented, “So, both are comparable heavyweights,” which elicited a slight smile from Bars.
Hara then said the stabbing was “senseless” and told Bars “there could have been other ways to resolve the situation avoiding deadly force.”
The judge also mentioned Bars’ “long record on the mainland involving violence.”
“Mr. Bars, … I understand you may have felt threatened, but when I looked at your response and the result of that response and the injuries that it caused to other people, … you’re lucky you’re not here facing a potential murder charge. He could have easily died,” Hara said.
“Thank goodness for our medical system and how advanced we’ve become.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
