Man faces nearly 20 charges following incident involving sword in Hilo

A 22-year-old man faces nearly 20 charges following an incident involving a sword outside a Hilo business.

The Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney reports that Seanson Marpel was arrested and is charged with:

• First-degree robbery.
• Second-degree assault.
• Second-degree theft.
• First-degree terroristic threatening.
• Third-degree promoting a dangerous drug.
• 2 counts of unauthorized possession of confidential personal information.
• 4 counts of third-degree identity theft.
• 4 counts of fourth-degree attempted theft.
• 4 counts of fraudulent use of a credit card.

Marpel made his initial court appearance the afternoon of Feb. 26 in Hilo District Court, where the court maintained his bail at $80,400, despite arguments by prosecutors to increase his bail, and he was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on March 4.

The charges stem from an alleged robbery incident Feb. 25 outside Wailoa Grill, located on Lihiwai Street on the Waiākea Peninsula in Hilo, that involved a bladed weapon that appeared to be a sword.

Marpel was also charged in relation to the unauthorized use and possession of credit cards, which belong to two other people, on Feb. 25-26.

The most serious offense is first-degree robbery, a Class A felony, which carries a 20-year prison term.

Second-degree assault, second-degree theft, theft of a credit card, first-degree terroristic threatening, third-degree identity theft, unauthorized possession of confidential or personal information and third-degree promoting a dangerous drug are all Class C felonies punishable by either a 5-year prison term or 4 years of probation and up to 12 months in jail.

The case was initiated and the arrest made by Hawai‘i Police Department’s South Hilo Patrol. The felony investigation was handled by Detective Lisa Ebesugawa with the department’s Area I Criminal Investigation Section.

Hawai‘i County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Woodrow Pengelly is prosecuting the case.