Kidnapping Suspect Pleads Not Guilty in 3rd Circuit Court

A Hilo man accused of kidnapping a teenage girl pleaded not guilty in Kona’s 3rd Circuit on Monday and has requested a jury trial, which was set for Feb. 7, 2023.

During Monday’s hearing, Duncan Mahi’s attorney requested a bail study be conducted, which the judge granted. He remains in custody on $2 million dollars bail.

Mahi is accused of robbing two teenagers at knifepoint at Anaehoʻomalu Bay in West Hawaiʻi on Sept. 16. According to court documents, Mahi forced the girl to tie up her teen boyfriend before he took her to his East Hawaiʻi home.

The 15-year-old girl escaped from Mahi nearly 24 hours later after convincing the 52-year-old to take her to get food at Café Pesto in Hilo.

Mahi was indicted by a Hilo grand jury on Sept. 21 on two counts of kidnapping, three counts of terroristic threatening, first-degree robbery, two counts of methamphetamine trafficking and four counts of sexual assault.