LIHU‘E — The man accused of calling in a bomb threat at Koloa Elementary School has been behind bars at Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center for the past four months.
After a hearing on Thursday, it seems he will stay there for the time being.
Lopaka Santos-Dasalia, 20, of Koloa, appeared at Fifth Circuit Court in Lihu‘e on Thursday morning, where deputy public defender Marissa Agena pushed for his bail to be lowered from $100,000.
After asking Santos- Dasalia a series of questions highlighting his inability to pay the $100,000, Agena requested bail be set at $2,000 instead.
“He’s entitled by the constitution to a reasonable bail amount,” said Agena.
Santos-Dasalia faces charges of terroristic threatening in the first degree and harassment for the Sept. 26, 2022, incident in which he allegedly called in a bomb threat that shut down Koloa Elementary School for a day.
The children of a woman he had dated attended the school, according to an order for protection she filed against him shortly after the incident. The document also details a history of harassment, which continued from jail after Santos-Dasalia’s arrest.
Deputy prosecutor Ramsey Ross argued against the reduction saying Santos-Dasalia still poses a “substantial danger to the community.”
“These are serious crimes,” said Ross. “The terroristic threatening included a bomb threat at an elementary school.”
Judge Randal Valenciano sided with the prosecution, saying there was “no assurance he is not a risk to the community.”
“The court is focused on the danger and risk posed in how we set bail,” said Valenciano.
Santos-Dasalia is set for another hearing on April 27.
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Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 808-647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com.
