Pearl City man convicted of 1987 murder
More than a quarter-century after the killing, a man from Hawaii was convicted Tuesday of murdering the famously flamboyant owner of a Southern California topless nightclub.
A Santa Ana, Calif., jury deliberated for less than a day before finding Richard C. Morris II guilty of the murder of Jimmy Casino, one of Orange County’s best-known unsolved killings.
Morris, 59, of Pearl City, was also found guilty of the special circumstances of murder for financial gain, murder during the commission of a robbery and murder during the commission of a rape, the Orange County Register reported.
He could get life in prison with no possibility of parole at his June sentencing.
Casino, whose real name was James Stockwell, lived a lavish lifestyle as owner of the lucrative Mustang Topless Theater but was also deep in debt, and his club was slowly overtaken by organized crime, police and prosecutors said. His was the first in a series of mob-style executions linked to the theater.
Prosecutors said Morris was one of two intruders who in 1987 ransacked Casino’s Buena Park condo, raped his 22-year-old girlfriend, shot him in the back of a head with a silencer-equipped handgun and left with money, jewelry, furs and two luxury cars.
Ex-bank worker admits stealing $120,000
A former First Hawaiian Bank employee admitted in federal court Tuesday that she stole more than $120,000 from the Kapaa branch’s ATM over a five-year period.
Shelli Ornellas, 35, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to bank theft. She faces a maximum of 30 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine at sentencing in September. She must also repay the money she stole.
Ornellas stole the money while working as the Kapaa branch’s ATM custodian from 2008 to Feb. 4.
"I withdrew money to pay personal bills without the bank’s knowledge," she said.
Prosecutor Andrea Hattan said Ornellas concealed her theft by manually altering the ATM’s balance to reflect a cash amount higher than what was in the automated teller machine. She was caught when the ATM ran out of money, Hattan said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Photovoltaic system stolen from Puna park
Hawaii County police are investigating the theft of a photovoltaic system from MacKenzie State Park in Puna sometime from Friday to Sunday.
One or more people apparently climbed onto the roof of the park’s new bathrooms and removed the panels, then cut a chain-link fence to steal the control box and a water pump. The total value of the items stolen and damaged was more than $5,000.
Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have information on the identity of anyone responsible call officer Joseph Passmore at 965-2716.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
Revocation of Coco Palms permits upheld
The Kauai Planning Commission has upheld a decision to revoke permits held by Coco Palms to rebuild the resort, which was damaged in 1992 during Hurricane Iniki.
The commission’s action Tuesday affirms the March 28 order of hearings officer Richard Nakamura.
Nakamura’s decision was stayed for 30 days to allow Prudential, Coco Palms Ventures LLC’s lender, to further explore the issues involved, the county said.
As part of his order, Nakamura noted that only the county Planning Department would be allowed to ask for an extension of the 30-day stay. The department made no such request, and the commission unanimously adopted the order to revoke the permits.
