Puna man sentenced to 10 years prison after kidnapping, assaulting girlfriend on Christmas Eve

A Puna man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading no contest to kidnapping and assaulting his estranged girlfriend on Christmas Eve in Hilo.

Elswood E. Noeau, 45, appeared in Hilo Circuit Court where the judge issued the sentence. He was out on bail at the time but was taken into custody to begin serving his 10-year term.

On May 7, Noeau entered “No Contest” pleas to charges of kidnapping (restrained another person with intent to inflict bodily injury upon the person) and felony abuse of a family or household member (physical abuse in the presence of minors, who are family or household members, less than 14 years of age).

According to police reports, the incident occurred after Noeau’s estranged girlfriend arrived at his residence to allow their three minor-aged children to visit him for the Christmas holiday.

Kidnapping is a class B felony offense punishable by either a 10-year prison term or four years probation and up to 18 months in jail. Felony Abuse is a class C felony offense punishable by either a five-year prison term or four years probation and up to 12 months in jail.