A 19-year-old Puna man has been indicted by a grand jury for a violent domestic incident last week that allegedly included an abduction, a beating and an involuntary car ride from Hilo to Puna for the victim.
The indictment charges Adam Almaraz with kidnapping, second-degree assault, first-degree terroristic threatening, domestic abuse and driving without a license.
A bench warrant issued with the indictment orders that Almaraz, who is in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center, be held — at least initially — without bail.
The indictment moves the case from Hilo District Court to Hilo Circuit Court.
The kidnapping charge, a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, replaces an initial charge of unlawful imprisonment, a Class C felony that carries a maximum of five years behind bars.
According to court documents filed by police, Almaraz’s estranged 19-year-old girlfriend told officers she confronted him at about midnight May 18 at Ainaola Park in Hilo over alleged infidelity. When the victim refused Almaraz’s order for her to get into his car, he then grabbed her by the neck and forced her into the passenger seat, documents state.
When the young woman attempted to get out of the car, Almaraz allegedly grabbed her by the hair and forced her back into the vehicle. Almaraz then punched her multiple times to the top of her head and twice to her right rib cage, causing pain, according to the documents.
The victim’s sister, who was also present at the park, reportedly called police when she saw Almaraz grab the victim by the hair and tell her, “If you don’t stay in the car, I’ll beat your ass.”
Almaraz allegedly then drove to his Pahoa residence while saying things such as, “Why would you let your sister call the cops on me? I hate you; I’m going to kill you!” and “You don’t give a f—- about me, why should I give a f—- about your life?”
Officers arrived at Almaraz’s house at about 12:50 a.m. and made contact with him. Police described Almaraz as “highly intoxicated … displaying red, watery and glassy eyes” with “a strong order of an intoxicating beverage emanating from his breath and body.”
The victim’s sister reportedly told police she witnessed Almaraz drinking Corona beers at the park prior to driving his car.
Almaraz allegedly refused to submit to a sobriety test and was originally charged in District Court with DUI. That charge wasn’t part of the indictment.
The victim reportedly refused medical treatment for her injuries.
According to the documents, a protective order obtained by the victim was served Feb. 28 on Almaraz and is in effect until Jan. 12, 2026.
Almaraz doesn’t have any felony convictions as an adult but has a still-active domestic assault case from January in Hilo Circuit Court.
The charges in that case include second-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment and two counts of domestic abuse aggravated by strangulation — all Class C felonies — plus misdemeanor domestic abuse.
The victim is the same 19-year-old woman.
Almaraz was free on bail in that case when the incident occurred, court records indicate.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
