LIHUE — A man police said assaulted another man at a Lihue bar more than two months ago was indicted by a grand jury Thursday. Nicholas Char, 34, has been charged with assault in the first degree for an alleged
LIHUE — A man police said assaulted another man at a Lihue bar more than two months ago was indicted by a grand jury Thursday.
Nicholas Char, 34, has been charged with assault in the first degree for an alleged “unprovoked” fight with Michael Nakana Duarte at Kalapaki Joe’s at Kukui Grove Center on Dec. 14, according to the state.
Prior to the alleged assault, Char had been drinking, taunting patrons and punching windows at Kalapaki Joe’s at Kukui Grove Center, according to police. He was removed from the restaurant for his behavior, but returned and allegedly punched Duarte in the back of the head, according to sources close to the family.
When medics arrived at the scene, they found Duarte unresponsive and rushed him to the Wilcox Memorial Hospital Emergency Room. He was then airlifted to Queen’s Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Duarte was in critical condition at Queen’s for at least a week, sources said, and is recovering at home.
On a gofundme page set up for Duarte by his mother, she said the family was looking at nearly $100,000 in hospital bills.
Police picked up Char at the Wilcox ER at 1: 33 a.m. Dec. 15 after he was treated for ribs and head lacerations.
He was scheduled to appear at court on Jan. 21 to be formally charged, but when he wasn’t, he walked out.
The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney said it hadn’t received police reports in time, but would charge Char via grand jury indictment.
Char’s defense attorney Mark Zenger said he has not received an indictment from the state, but he’s aware of the charges.
Bail for Char was $20,000.
