Update: Kona Man Accused of Following Minor into School Bathroom Held on $10K Bail

Update: Christopher Estoy was held on $10,000 bail and is set to appear for a preliminary hearing at Kona District Court this morning.

Original story:

A Big Island man faces several charges following two separate incidents earlier this month, one of which involved a weapon at a West Hawai‘i elementary school.

Hawai’i County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that 29-year-old Christopher Estoy of Kona was charged in connection with an Aug. 24 incident involving a minor at Hōnaunau Elementary School and a separate burglary Aug. 8 at Dolphin Bay Hotel in Hilo.

As the complaints allege, Estoy, who has a prior felony kidnapping conviction, was charged with kidnapping, first-degree custodial interference, second-degree unlawful imprisonment, first-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree burglary. The most serious offense, kidnapping, is a Class A felony punishable by a 20-year prison term.

If convicted of the kidnapping, terroristic threatening or burglary charges, Estoy faces a mandatory prison term and will not be eligible for probation.

He made his initial appearance Monday, Aug. 29, in Kona District Court. Estoy remains in custody in lieu of $125,000 bail.

At the time of his arrest for these incidents, Estoy was also arrested for an outstanding Circuit Court bench warrant.

According to police, the Aug. 24 incident at Hōnaunau Elementary involved a weapon, which the complaint from the county prosecutor’s office identified as a knife.

A media release from the Hawai‘i Police Department said that When Kona patrol officers responded to the reported incident at the school, they determined Estoy entered the school campus and followed a student into a restroom. Estoy, who was in possession of a weapon, closed the restroom door, restricting the juvenile from exiting the restroom. Shortly after, an adult who was in the immediate area heard a commotion and was able to open the restroom door, at which time the juvenile was able to escape.

Estoy was arrested for unlawful imprisonment and remained in custody at the Kealakehe Police Station as detectives with the Area II Juvenile Aid Section continued this investigation. After conferring with the county prosecutor’s office, police charged Estoy on Aug. 26 in connection with the incident at the school.

The kidnapping investigation was initiated by the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Kona Patrol, the burglary investigation was initiated by HPD’s South Hilo Patrol and the felony investigation was handled by Detective Kevin Brodie with the HPD Area II Juvenile Aid Section. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy County Prosecuting Attorney Kate Perazich.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact Detective Brodie via email at Kevin.Brodie@hawaiicounty.gov or calling 808-326-4646, extension 304.