LIHUE — A man charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting arrows into a tent with four people at Anahola Beach Park had his trial date pushed back until April. Duane Dawson, 45, appeared before Fifth Circuit Court Kathleen Watanabe
LIHUE — A man charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting arrows into a tent with four people at Anahola Beach Park had his trial date pushed back until April.
Duane Dawson, 45, appeared before Fifth Circuit Court Kathleen Watanabe Thursday with his defense attorney Alfred Castillo Jr. to ask that the court grant him a continuance. His trial was rescheduled for April 11.
Both parties suggested they would need a week and half for a jury trial.
Castillo requested additional time to prepare so he could connect with a list of witnesses his client had just given to him. He asked for a date in January, but the earliest available was April.
“I’ve been sitting in jail since June 21, judge,” Dawson said. “I’m innocent.”
Watanabe told Dawson that the court was doing its best to address his matter, but that he needed to understand what was at stake.
“You know Mr. Dawson, you have a good attorney who wants to do good by you,” she said. “And he means well. He needs the time to prepare. This is not a single count misdemeanor trial. These are some very serious charges. There are numerous charges.”
Dawson is charged with multiple felony charges including attempted murder in the first degree, three counts of attempted murder in the second degree and three counts of terroristic threatening in the first degree.
Other charges include criminal trespass in the second degree, four counts of reckless endangering in the second degree and terroristic threatening in the second degree.
Prior to Dawson’s June 21 arrest, he allegedly threatened to kill a man and “all the Tongans at the party while shooting arrows” at the victims in the area, according to a police report filed with court records.
Police investigated the party where the alleged arrow shooting took place and found “two arrows, one broad head and one bullet type tip, under the tents where the people and children were still talking and playing at the time of the incident,” according to court records.
Kauai police officers later found Dawson walking around a house along Anahola Road on June 21 after allegedly stating he had purposely fired arrows at 20 Tongans at a party at Anahola Beach Park because they almost killed his dog, according to court records.
Four alleged victims of the alleged crimes reported Dawson had shot multiple arrows toward them, “which could have caused serious injury and possible death,” according to court records.
Dawson is alleged to have shouted obscenities at the victims before he was arrested.
Police later found the bow and additional arrows by the house on Anahola Road, which tied him to the alleged crimes, according to court documents. Upon questioning the homeowner, comparing the previously found arrows, and reviewing victims’ description of weapon, police determined the bow to be a match.
Dawson has a criminal record that includes 21 prior convictions that stem back to 1989. Dawson has been convicted of criminal contempt, assault three, criminal property damage, abuse of family or household, harassment, and violation of protective order.
Bail for Dawson was set at $250,000.
If convicted on attempted murder in the first degree, Dawson could face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
His attorney declined to comment.
