Residents of the Hawaiian Paradise Park neighborhood where a 25-year-old Puna crime spree suspect allegedly committed a violent robbery showed up in force Friday at the man’s arraignment in Hilo Circuit Court.
Residents of the Hawaiian Paradise Park neighborhood where a 25-year-old Puna crime spree suspect allegedly committed a violent robbery showed up in force Friday at the man’s arraignment in Hilo Circuit Court.
Sixteen people, including alleged victims, crowded into several rows of the courtroom gallery to witness Lucas Ryan Rivera plead not guilty to first-degree robbery, resisting an order to stop, revocation or modification of probation, marijuana possession, unauthorized possession of personal info and drug paraphernalia, two counts each of computer fraud, fraudulent use of a credit card and property damage, three counts each of driving a stolen vehicle and promoting a dangerous drug, and five counts of theft.
Judge Greg Nakamura ordered Rivera, who’s in custody in lieu of $436,000 bail, to appear for trial at 9 a.m. Nov. 6.
“We will be here for the sentencing,” a woman who declined to identify herself said after the hearing.
According to court documents filed by police, the alleged robbery victim identified Rivera as the man who punched him at least twice May 18 with brass knuckles as another man pointed a sawed-off shotgun at the victim, then took the victim’s backpack containing a debit card and personal identification number and used them to make multiple cash withdrawals.
Police say Rivera eluded apprehension by officers attempting to serve bench warrants May 1 in Hawaiian Acres subdivision.
According to court documents, Rivera, who was driving a 1991 Honda sedan stolen the previous day from a parking lot near Ohelo Cafe in Volcano, used the car to ram and damage the subsidized police cars of Officers Lloyd Ishikawa and Whitman McCallum before driving away at a high rate of speed. Ishikawa reportedly had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck by the Honda.
The damaged Honda was found abandoned later that day on Pikake Street in Kurtistown, documents state.
Rivera allegedly then went on a spree that included the thefts of a 1986 Toyota pickup May 3 at Kehena Beach and a 1992 Isuzu pickup truck May 5 in Pepeekeo.
Several of those present — most of whom appeared to be senior citizens — spoke to the Tribune-Herald. All declined to identify themselves.
“He terrorized our neighborhood,” said a man.
A woman added that Rivera “would park on the street, right in front of my house, day and night … just waiting for us to leave.”
“We are angry. We want something to happen, something to change. And we’re tired of criminals having all the rights,” said another.
The most severe charge, first-degree robbery, is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment upon conviction.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.