LIHU‘E — A Kaua‘i resident who fled Massachusetts while on probation for assault and battery on a child under the age of 14 appears headed back to the East Coast to face charges there. According to Barnstable Superior Court Probation
LIHU‘E — A Kaua‘i resident who fled Massachusetts while on probation for assault and battery on a child under the age of 14 appears headed back to the East Coast to face charges there.
According to Barnstable Superior Court Probation Department records, Frederick W. Pannkoke, 58, was on probation when he failed to show up for his probation-surrender hearing in December 1989.
His last known Massachusetts address was a homeless shelter in Hyannis — about 90 minutes south of Boston on the popular tourist peninsula of Cape Cod — and at least up until 2005 he was listed as among Barnstable County’s “Most Wanted.”
His current address is Wailua’s Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center, where he is being held without bail pending the finalizing of extradition paperwork.
Fifth Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano ruled Tuesday that the person in his court and the man wanted in Massachusetts are both the same Pannkoke, based on fingerprint and other identification analysis, and Pannkoke’s multiple admissions to his name, date of birth and Social Security number, and that extradition proceedings will continue.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Murakami called as witnesses Kaua‘i Police Department Lt. Jon Takamura and cellblock Public Safety Officer Roy Waskoviak to identify Pannkoke, and Scott Yamaguchi, KPD criminal identification technician, to state that separate sets of fingerprints from Massachusetts and Kaua‘i both definitively identified Pannkoke.
Public Defender John Calma, representing Pannkoke, had contested both his client’s identity as the man wanted in Massachusetts, the reason Massachusetts authorities want him there, and the extradition itself.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tracy Murakami said Pannkoke violated terms of his probation by leaving the state and failing to register with the Massachusetts sex-offender registry.
Once Hawai‘i Gov. Linda Lingle receives a letter requesting extradition from Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, and agrees to extradite, Pannkoke will be escorted to Massachusetts, following Valenciano’s formal ruling on the extradition matter.
Valenciano scheduled another court date for Pannkoke on Thursday, as Calma said Pannkoke needs to discuss his situation with his family members who live on the South Shore.
Valenciano also set a court date of June 25 for the continued extradition proceedings, unless a resolution is reached Thursday. Murakami said the extradition paperwork, already moving in Massachusetts, should be in place in time for the June 25 court date.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com
