A judge reduced bail Tuesday for a 60-year-old Hilo man accused of assaulting his former girlfriend and breaking her nose in a Puueo Street hotel room.
Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk reduced bail from $86,500 to $36,500 for Vance Elroy Bond in response to a motion by his court-appointed defense counsel, Francis Alcain. The motion was objected to by Deputy Prosecutor Lea Cooper.
Bond — a former county firefighter and onetime professional boxer — is charged with kidnapping, second-degree assault and domestic abuse.
Police allege Bond struck his 52-year-old former girlfriend multiple times during an altercation early Monday morning.
According to police, Bond refused to let the victim leave the hotel room, holding her against her will, and struck her multiple times, causing a nasal bone fracture, concussion, a large facial hematoma and neck and back strain, police said.
The woman was transported in stable condition to the Hilo Medical Center, where she was treated and released the same day.
Hawk reduced the bail for the most serious offense, kidnapping — a Class A felony carrying a potential 20-year prison term — from $75,000 to $25,000. The second-degree assault charge is a Class C felony, with conviction carrying a maximum five-year prison term, while the domestic abuse offense is a misdemeanor.
Hawk ordered Bond to return for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Bond remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Police ask anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact Detective Kelsey Kobayashi of the Area I Juvenile Aid Section at (808) 961-8883 or email at kelsey.kobayashi@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
