A Kona man facing attempted murder and other charges stemming from a December 2021 domestic violence incident changed his plea to guilty on lesser included charges.
A Kona man facing attempted murder and other charges stemming from a December 2021 domestic violence incident changed his plea to guilty on lesser included charges.
Glendon Nakata, 53, pleaded guilty on May 23 to first-degree attempted assault and felony abuse of family or household member as part of a plea deal meted with Hawaii County prosecutors. He has been held without bail at Hawaii Community Correctional Center since his arrest.
In January, court proceedings were suspended until Nakata could undergo a mental fitness evaluation. Doctor reports from that evaluation concluded he was fit to stand trial with a jury trial date originally set for May 31.
Nakata pleaded not guilty Dec. 17, 2021, to attempted second-degree murder, kidnapping, first-degree terroristic threatening and two counts of felony abuse of a family or household member in connection with the Dec. 3, 2021, incident in which Nakata allegedly tried strangle his wife with a dog leash. At that time, his defense counsel, William Reece stated Nakata was a decorated veteran who suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, according to court records, the victim stated he refused treatment for the disorder.
Nakata also had a 2017 charge of abuse of family and household member and second-degree terroristic threatening, of which he was acquitted by excluding penal responsibility, meaning it was determined he was affected by a physical or mental disease at the time of the incident.
Sentencing will be held on July 22.
