Puna man indicted after allegedly fracturing 21-year-old son’s skull with gas cannister torch

A 41-year-old Puna man has been indicted by a Hilo grand jury after he allegedly struck his 21-year-old son with a gas cannister torch, fracturing his skull and causing intercranial bleeding, during a March 20 domestic dispute at a residence on Kaniela Road.

Stanton A. Joaquin of Mountain View was indicted on the following charges:

• First-degree assault.
• Second-degree assault.
• Felony abuse of a family or household member.
• 2 counts of first-degree terroristic threatening.
• Misdemeanor abuse of a family or household member.

The most serious offense, first-degree assault, is a Class B felony punishable by either a 10-year prison term or 5 years probation and up to 18 months in jail.

He was taken into custody March 20 and charged March 22 by complaint in Hilo District Court. He was released from custody after posting $22,000 bail.

Hawai’i County prosecutors on March 27 were able to secure the indictment and obtain a $130,000 indictment warrant.

Joaquin turned himself in April 1 and posted the additional required bail. He was released from custody and is schedule to make his initial court appearance the afternoon of April 5 in Hilo Circuit Court.

The case was initiated by Hawai’i Police Department Puna Patrol Officer Conrad Bidal and the felony investigation was led by Officer Corey Kaneko with the Police Department’s Area I Juvenile Aid Section.

The case is being prosecuted by Hawai’i County Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Kirsten Selvig and Patrick Muñoz.