Update: Woman charged with abuse of 4-year-old daughter, assault on elderly woman, meth possession

5:47 p.m. July 24 update: A Puna District Court judge maintained bail on a woman accused of assaulting a 74-year-old woman and her 4-year-old daughter.

According to details released by Hawai‘i Police Department, Puna patrol officers responded to an unknown type of disturbance at 10:45 p.m. on Friday in Mountain View on North Ala Road near the intersection with Highway 11.

When officers arrived on scene, they learned from the elderly woman that she was awakened by a child screaming outside her home. When she went outside, she saw a young girl alone in the street who said she was scared.

According to police, the victim asked the child where her mother was, who then pointed down the street.

“The victim then walked the child back to her mother where she was assaulted by the child’s mother, later identified as Nakamura,” police stated.
 
The child and Nakamura left the area before police arrived, however, they were found several miles away hiding in the grass.

Nakamura was arrested for assault against the 74-year-old victim, abuse against the child due to injuries observed on the child, and promoting a dangerous drug after police located a small zip-lock type baggie containing a crystal-like substance that later tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.

During an interview with police, child told investigators her mother grabbed the front part of neck and squeezed to a point where she couldn’t breathe. The child was placed in the custody of Child Welfare Services for her safety.

Nakamura remains in custody on $32,000 bail and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

Original post: A 38 year-old Hilo woman has been charged with felony abuse of a minor, felony assault on an elderly woman and possession of methamphetamine in relation to an incident that occurred on July 21 in Kurtistown.

Alicia Jean Nakamura is scheduled to make her initial appearance in Hilo District Court on Monday afternoon. She remains in custody in lieu of $32,000 bail.

As the Complaint alleges, Nakamura was charged with Felony Abuse of a Family or
Household Member (physically abusing a minor, 4 years old, impeding normal breathing and/or circulation of blood by applying pressing on the throat and/or neck), petty misdemeanor Abuse of a Family or Household Member, Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree (possess any amount of methamphetamine), and Assault in the Second Degree (cause bodily injury to a person over the age of 60).

The most serious charges, Felony Abuse of a Family or Household Member and Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree (“PDD 3”) are both class C felony offenses and carry a penalty of either a five-year prison term or five-years probation (Felony Abuse) and up to twelve months in jail or four-years probation (PDD 3) and up to twelve months in jail.

The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and
until proven guilty.

The case was initiated by Officer Dallas Arce, Puna Patrol, and the felony investigation was led by Detective Kevin Brodie, Juvenile Aid Section, Area I Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Roland Talon and Kirsten Selvig.