A judge maintained bail Monday for a 39-year-old Pahoa man accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend last week.
Frank William Funes, who lives in Nanawale Estates, is charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree burglary and domestic abuse for the Thursday night incident, which was reportedly witnessed by the former couple’s 16-year-old son.
The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but at last report was in stable condition.
Deputy Public Defender Jonas Krave on Monday asked Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk to free Funes on court-supervised release without cash bail or to reduce Funes’ $527,000 bail.
Although much of what Krave said was inaudible from the courtroom gallery, he said Funes “has no convictions for crimes of violence.” Krave also told the judge Funes is gainfully employed.
Documents state Funes has no felony convictions.
Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Rothfus objected to both supervised release and a bail reduction, citing the seriousness of the alleged offenses. He told the judge the state believes Funes to be a “substantial danger to the complainant, her son and the community.”
“This relates to an invasion of his ex-girlfriend’s home … and stabbing her with a knife multiple times in her arm and torso,” Rothfus said. “Also, this happened while the defendant’s 16-year-old son was present in the home and told the police that he saw the defendant hurting his mother. He yelled at the defendant to stop and called 911, which caused the defendant to flee the scene.
“The complainant received stab wounds to the chest, including a punctured lung, which a doctor noted is a serious bodily injury where there is a substantial risk of death.”
The woman who reportedly told officers she was stabbed with a large hunting knife.
Funes, who reportedly left the scene in a Mazda CX-5 compact sport-utility vehicle, was stopped by police while driving toward Pahoa village on Kahakai Boulevard. He was arrested a short time later.