KEALAKEKUA — The second assailant in the 2016 rape of a woman at Old Kona Airport Park in Kailua-Kona was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
On Monday morning, Samuel Latrik, 19, was sentenced in Kona Circuit Court after pleading guilty in November to first-degree sexual assault, first-degree attempted sexual assault, kidnapping and second- and third-degree assault.
Latrik also pleaded no contest to another count of first-degree sexual assault plus second-degree robbery and first-degree terroristic threatening.
The counts will be served concurrently and the Hawaii Paroling Authority will determine the minimum prison sentence.
“I’m thankful the majority of all this is almost over and that he’s locked up for a long time,” the victim said after the sentencing.
Latrik was one of two teens who accosted and sexually assaulted the woman Sept. 3, 2016, on a soccer field at the park.
Tyron Sigrah, now 18, was sentenced to 20 years maximum in September on charges of first-degree sexual assault, kidnapping, second-degree robbery and second-degree assault.
The Hawaii Paroling Authority issued an 11-year minimum term before he is eligible for parole.
On Monday, Deputy Prosecutor Sheri Lawson argued against youthful offender status, which would have allowed Latrik to serve a maximum sentence of eight years.
“The court has to make a finding that there’s no substantial danger to the community,” Lawson said. “The fact that this was committed in the community against a random person shows he’s not a good candidate for youthful offender.”
According to Lawson, the court received letters in support of Latrik, indicating the incident was a mistake.
“But this was not a mistake. This was a very deliberate and intentional choice to rape a woman in our community,” she said. “He made a very, very adult choice and he needs to face that consequence.”
The victim addressed the court.
“I know you read my impact statements and heard me speak before,” she stated. “I just want to reiterate how vicious the muscular one was. The suffocation, the continuous punches to my face.”
In previous testimony to the court, the victim didn’t know the teens and was only able to identify them as the skinny boy and the muscular boy, the latter a reference to Latrik. DNA evidence tabbed Sigrah and Latrik as the perpetrators.
The woman added to the court the continuous attacks on her that night made her question whether or not she would live.
“There’s really no words to express how this has affected my life,” the victim said. “I’m still unemployed. I have night terrors.”
Latrik also prepared a short statement, which he read to the court.
“Words cannot explain the hurt and sorrow I feel in my part in that horrible night,” he said. “I hope someday that (victim) will be able to forgive me.”
Judge Robert D.S. Kim said the court recognizes the defendant’s youth.
“The court is also cognizant that this was a terrible crime,” Kim said. “What was done to that young lady was a horror story.”
Kim said Latrik poses a danger to the community and isn’t a candidate for youthful offender status.
Latrik will receive credit for time served and be required to register as a sex offender.
Email Tiffany DeMasters at tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com.
