LIHU‘E — The bench warrant for an off-island celebrity witness who missed a court hearing last week was lifted Wednesday in 5th Circuit Court. Randolph Trey Parker, co-creator of the animated television series “South Park,” missed an April 17 appearance
LIHU‘E — The bench warrant for an off-island celebrity witness who missed a court hearing last week was lifted Wednesday in 5th Circuit Court.
Randolph Trey Parker, co-creator of the animated television series “South Park,” missed an April 17 appearance as a prosecution witness in a 2009 case involving the burglary of his residence along with terroristic threats using firearms and weapons.
The court issued a $1,000 bench warrant but stayed the order until Parker’s account by telephone at the Thursday hearing.
Judge Kathleen Watanabe said if Parker had made his April 17 appearance then the motions could have been decided and the trial would have started on Monday. With the priority trial not ready to begin, the court continued the trial date to June 3.
Mark Zenger, a Kaua‘i attorney acting as legal counsel for Parker, explained to the court that he was in the process of relocating from Los Angeles to New York. His schedule was hectic and he missed the hearing, he said.
When the warrant was issued, Zenger said he put Parker in direct contact with the prosecutor’s office to explain his situation and make arrangements for the Thursday hearing. Parker had planned to be on Kaua‘i for court Thursday, but he understood that there would be a continuance and that his presence would not be necessary, Zenger said.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Arin requested the firm-set trial date and to move the hearing dates for motions to suppress evidence hearing to May 22, and for a motion to suppress identification of the defendant to May 29. The dates are closer to the trial date and accommodate the business schedule of the witness.
Defense attorney Michael Soong is representing the defendant Joseph Genaro Bonachita, who was also present in court. Soong did not object but expressed concern that the court’s accommodation of Parker would could create a time-crunch and may not allow enough time for hearings on motions prior to the trial.
Watanabe granted Arin’s requested hearing and trial dates. Parker confirmed with the court that he would be present by phone for the May 29 evidenciary hearing, and in person for the June 3 trial date. He is not required to appear at the second motions hearing.
Parker was living part time in a Wailua home and was on-island on July 1, 2009 when former Kaua‘i Police officer Bonachita, 45, of Hanapepe was arrested on a charge of first-degree burglary of Parker’s home.
Bonachita was arrested for a second alleged break-in of the home that same day, and is accused of using a knife to threaten Parker and a female acquaintance. He was indicted for the break-in and two counts of first-degree terroristic threat, along with weapons and ammunition charges in September 2009.
Bonachita refused a change of plea offer from the prosecutor in December 2011. The two separate cases were consolidate in March 2012.
