A 21-year-old Captain Cook man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a violent robbery last June at an Ocean View business.
Third Circuit Chief Judge Robert Kim imposed the sentence Feb. 5 on Derick Camacho.
Camacho pleaded no contest to second-degree robbery, second-degree burglary and unlawful imprisonment for the June 20 incident. In a deal with prosecutors, charges of kidnapping, first- and second-degree theft and attempted auto theft were dismissed.
Had Camacho been convicted of the most serious offense — kidnapping, a Class A felony — he could’ve been sentenced to 20 years.
The most serious offense he pleaded to, second-degree robbery, is a Class B felony carrying a 10-year prison term. The other two charges, second-degree burglary and unlawful imprisonment, are Class C felonies carrying a maximum five-year sentence.
Kim ordered that the burglary and unlawful imprisonment sentences run consecutively to the robbery conviction, but concurrent with each other.
Camacho ambushed, terrorized, abducted and robbed the 61-year-old owner of the Kahuku Gift Shop, who had seen the masked Camacho on video surveillance in real time attempting to break in to the closed store. The shopkeeper went to the business to investigate further.
According to court documents, Camacho — who was masked — grabbed the victim by the hair and dragged him across a gravel parking lot, then demanded the businessman open the front door. Camacho then punched the victim in the face.
The victim complied, telling the intruder he wasn’t going to fight back and the suspect could have whatever he wanted.
While inside the shop, Camacho loaded items into backpacks sold in the shop as well as store-owned shopping baskets. The victim told police Camacho ordered him to help load merchandise into backpacks, and the storekeeper, fearing for his life, did so — including candy and other snacks, jewelry and cash.
Camacho then told the victim to load the items into the shopkeeper’s white 2020 Ford utility van, which he did. At one point, the victim was able to break free and attempted to run next door to the Ohana Fuels gas station, but Camacho caught and tackled the victim, dragged him by the hair back into the store, and bound his wrists and ankles with packing tape.
Police were reportedly investigating another active burglary nearby and responded while Camacho was still at the establishment.
In a brief standoff with officers, Camacho used the victim as a human shield in an attempt to elude capture.
Documents state that when Camacho refused to comply with repeated instructions to release the store owner, Ka‘u Patrol Sgt. Darrell Clinton tased Camacho and took him into custody.
Police reportedly recovered from Camacho $1,025.50 in cash, 50 silver chains worth $20 each, a set of keys to the store and the victim’s van, and miscellaneous other items of merchandise.
Camacho had no prior adult criminal record.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
