Waimea women indicted in assault case

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KAILUA-KONA — Two Waimea women are facing assault and terroristic threatening charges, among others, stemming from an incident last March in which they allegedly beat up a mother and her 6-year-old daughter.

KAILUA-KONA — Two Waimea women are facing assault and terroristic threatening charges, among others, stemming from an incident last March in which they allegedly beat up a mother and her 6-year-old daughter.

Bree Malia Bertelmann, 29, and Eliana Mundon, 19, were each indicted last week by a Kona grand jury for two counts of third-degree assault and one count each of first-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in connection with the March 25, 2016, assault outside a home in Waimea, according to court records.

A $5,000 bench warrant was subsequently issued for both women on Monday.

Once the warrant is served, the courts will set an initial appearance for both parties in 3rd Circuit Court.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Frye said on Friday that the charges stem from allegations that both women entered a car and committed two instances of assault, one for assaulting an adult woman and another for assaulting a minor child. Frye said the child was a 6-year-old girl.

The first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle charge filed against each woman accused them of entering the vehicle “with the intent to commit assault.”

Bertelmann was 29 at the time and Mundon 18 when they were arrested after the incident on one charge each of third-degree assault and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

Both were released pending further investigation, according to police records.

A Hawaii Police Department spokeswoman said via email that the alleged incident occurred about 1:25 p.m. outside a residence off Kawaihae Road, in the vicinity of the 65-1300 block.

The suspects reportedly punched a 26-year-old woman, who was seated in a car, on the head and face.

She suffered bruising in the incident, which makes no mention of subsequent transport to a hospital for care.

The spokeswoman said the reports do not include information pertaining to a minor victim.

The indictment does not include police report numbers for the two charges that include the minor.

The deputy prosecuting attorney now assigned to the case was unable to be reached for clarification regarding the charges related to the minor contained in the indictment as of press time on Tuesday.

First-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle are class C felonies punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Third-degree assault is a misdemeanor offense that carries a sentence of up to one year imprisonment and a fine of up to $2,000.

Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.