Fire causes major damage to home

A 900-square-foot, single-level wooden home at Kane and Alii roads in Hanapepe, Kauai, was heavily damaged by fire yesterday morning.

Damage to the home is estimated at $250,000. The value of the contents of the home has not yet been determined.

No one was injured in the fire.

Twelve firefighters and four rescue specialists from the Lihue, Hanapepe, Kalaheo and Waimea stations responded to the 9:30 a.m. alarm. The fire was reported under control at 9:50 a.m. and extinguished at 10:20 a.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Man indicted in stabbing-arson case

An Oahu grand jury indicted David Silverman yesterday on charges of second-degree attempted murder and arson for allegedly stabbing a business associate and then setting fire to his Pearl City house July 19.

The indictment also includes terroristic threatening and criminal property damage related to a separate incident at the house the previous week.

Second-degree attempted murder carries a maximum term of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.

Victim David Davis was hospitalized in critical condition with second- and third-degree burns on 20 percent of his body, as well as multiple stab wounds and smoke inhalation.

Police said Davis told them it was Silverman who attacked him. He escaped the fire by jumping out of the house through the bathroom window.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Ex-child star gets probation in Kauai fraud

LIHUE » Former child TV star Lance Kerwin has been placed on five years’ probation, given credit for 90 days served and ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.

Kerwin, who played the title role in "James at 15" on NBC in the 1977-78 season, was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to second-degree theft.

Kauai County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lauren McDowell says Kerwin, 49, was caught falsifying documents to obtain state medical assistance and food stamps.

Defense attorney Craig De Costa says when Kerwin applied for the benefits, he omitted in the application that he owned three properties on the mainland.

Kerwin says he has already paid $21,822 in restitution.

Xanthin Berdon

Suspect who fled police being sought

Big Island police were searching for a 20-year-old Puna man who escaped from officers last week.

Xanthin Berdon, 20, of Hawaiian Beaches is a suspect in the robbery of a 60-year-old Mountain View man on July 20, police said. The victim was injured and his car was stolen after he gave a ride to several young adults and juveniles.

Berdon was detained by police in Hawaiian Beaches but was able to get away, police said.

He is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 135 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Police ask that anyone with information on Berdon’s whereabouts call Detective Paul Fukuda at 961-2381 or the Police Department’s nonemergency line, 935-3311.