LIHU‘E — Cousins Benjamin Keolamauloa Niau and Vernon Lee Niau, the latter sought for some time and both believed to be on the Mainland, top this week’s Most Wanted list. Benjamin Niau, 24, is Native Hawaiian, 5 feet 5 inches
LIHU‘E — Cousins Benjamin Keolamauloa Niau and Vernon Lee Niau, the latter sought for some time and both believed to be on the Mainland, top this week’s Most Wanted list.
Benjamin Niau, 24, is Native Hawaiian, 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 275 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes and a last known Kaua‘i address in Hanapepe. He is wanted on two bench warrants for criminal contempt of court for failure to appear for Drug Court in February 2008, and his total cash-only bail is $50,000.
Vernon Niau, 23, is Native Hawaiian, 6 feet tall, weighs 200 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes and a last known Kaua‘i address in Koloa. He is wanted on two bench warrants for a total of three charges of criminal contempt of court, and his total bail is $13,800.
Darrell Horner of Horner Bail Bonds has, along with Kaua‘i Police Department officers and law-enforcement officials from the Pacific Northwest, been trying to track him down.
“We would appreciate any information on the whereabouts of both of them,” said KPD Lt. Sherwin Kaleo Perez, Lihu‘e district commander in the Patrol Services Bureau. “An address of where they’re living would be very helpful.”
Returning to the Most Wanted list are Gretchen Bueno Iloreta and Noah Jeriamiah Elija Smazik.
Iloreta, 24, is Filipino, 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 142 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes and a last known address in Kalaheo. She is wanted on two bench warrants for criminal contempt of court, and her total bail is $10,300.
Smazik, 27, is white, 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighs 170 pounds, has blue eyes and black hair and a last known address in Kapa‘a. He is wanted by the Hawai‘i Paroling Authority for a parole violation, and there is no bail.
“Smazik is a repeat, and is wanted by the Hawai‘i Paroling Authority. He is believed to be staying somewhere between Kapa‘a and the North Shore,” Perez said in an e-mail. “Any information would be greatly appreciated.”
“Iloreta is also a repeat, and we would appreciate any information on her whereabouts,” said Perez. Iloreta was one of January’s Most Wanted persons.
Kelly Kunio Francisco, 38, is Japanese, with a last known address in Hanapepe. He is wanted on one grand jury bench warrant for failure to comply with terms and conditions of his deferred acceptance of guilty plea filed in 2002, and his bail is $10,000.
Anyone with information on any of the people listed above should call KPD dispatch, 241-1711.
The following people were arrested on bench warrants from March 26 to April 1: bench warrants: Ann E. Bowers (three warrants), Jason W. Camarillo, Daniel R. Caughey (two warrants), Aurelio Constantino, Christopher Corbett, Audrey M. Fernandes (two warrants), Micah S.T. Otani (a former Most Wanted), Valerie R. Ozonko, Malia S. Rita, Kamani L. Tangalin (two warrants), Wayne Yamaguchi; grand jury bench warrants: Randy K. Brun, Scott G. Ruiz (a former Most Wanted); warrant of arrest: Kimberly Lopez.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
