Hawaii County has filed a petition asking a judge to order the forfeiture of a pet puppy owned by a 58-year-old Hilo woman who is accused of abusing the animal.
Leilani Vaughn, also known as Leilani Kumunalu, is charged with second-degree cruelty to animals and obstructing government operations, both misdemeanors carrying a maximum sentence of a year in jail upon conviction.
The petition filed May 22 by Deputy Corporation Counsel Cody Frenz states the puppy was “properly impounded” by the Animal Control Protection Agency. The document further asserts that forfeiture of the animal is “is appropriate in this case to protect the puppy from further abusive behavior and will allow the puppy to be rehomed (adopted) and released from its continuous confinement” while Vaughn’s criminal case remains active.
The petition is scheduled to be heard at 8:30 a.m. June 18 by Hilo District Judge Kanani Laubach.
Police arrested Vaughn, who had no permanent address, on April 14 after receiving a report from an employee in a business in the Waiakea Kai Shopping Plaza that a woman was “beating up a dog” near the plaza at 88 Kanoelehua Ave., according to the document.
The petition describes the animal as “a brown puppy weighing approximately 10 pounds.”
The reporting witness “informed responding officers that she observed Vaughn ‘beating, slapping, punching and hanging the puppy by its leash,’” the document states. The complainant showed officers cellphone video of the violent behavior, according to the petition.
“The video surveillance graphically depicts the puppy whining, barking and making guttural noises that signified distress due to injury and/or deprivation of necessary oxygen … .”
Officer Victor McLellan, when he arrived, “observed Vaughn forcefully grabbing the puppy by its muzzle while repeatedly and aggressively shaking the puppy’s head and yanking on the rope leash around the puppy’s neck,” the document states.
In Vaughn’s initial court appearance on April 15, she requested, through Deputy Public Defender Jared Auna, “the return of her puppy, that she loves, that she has taken care of, that has been — according to her — stolen by the Hawaii Police Department.”
Vaughn, who is free on supervised release — a form of cashless bail — appeared again Wednesday in court as ordered in the criminal case, and Deputy Prosecutor Brittny Marino informed the court and Vaughn of the petition filed by the county.
Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk granted a defense request for a continuance in the criminal case and ordered Vaughn to appear for arraignment at 1:30 p.m. June 9.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
