Preschool teacher accused in sex assault
An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment Tuesday charging a preschool teacher with sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl he was baby-sitting.
The indictment charges Kaleb Acklin with one count of first-degree sexual assault. The assault took place on Aug. 18, 2011, according to the indictment.
Circuit Judge Richard Perkins set bail at $100,000.
Deputy Prosecutor Chastity Imamura told Perkins that Acklin sexually assaulted the girl while baby-sitting her and a sibling in the girl’s home. She said the girl told her mother what happened that same day.
School closed after water pipe damaged
Queen Kaahumanu Elementary School was to reopen this morning with water service after crews repaired pipes damaged when a minivan struck an above-ground valve on the Beretania Street side of the campus.
Classes were canceled Wednesday because the school was without water. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply said the accident happened at 1:54 a.m. Because the backup control valve is on school property, the Department of Education did the repair work, said school Principal Chris Daly.
Project set to stabilize rocks at Hanauma
The city began removing loose rocks and installing netting Wednesday at Hanauma Bay.
The $889,000 project is being done by Prometheus Construction Co. and should be completed in March.
The project is in the area behind the restrooms and snack bar. The contractor will remove loose rocks, install netting, and anchor rock formations.
Park users may be inconvenienced during this period, but all of the work will be contained within the park and there will be no road closings outside of the park.
Threats prompt screening for Council meeting
Kauai County will increase security at today’s special County Council meeting due to reported threats since Mayor Bernard Carvalho’s veto of Bill 2491.
Police will use metal detectors to screen people before they enter Council chambers.
Bags, containers, food and beverages including water bottles will not be allowed in the chambers.
The 9 a.m. meeting will be held to officially receive the veto, but no action will be taken.
The Council may schedule another meeting to consider an override. The Council has 30 days from Oct. 31, the day Carvalho vetoed the measure, for the override.
Bill 2491 would require large agribusinesses to disclose the pesticides they use and implement buffer zones to prevent spraying near schools, dwellings, medical facilities, public roadways and waterways.
Robbery fails at Hilo Subway
Hawaii County police are investigating an attempted robbery Tuesday at a fast-food restaurant in Hilo.
Shortly before 6 p.m., a man entered the Subway restaurant on Lanikaula Street, claimed he had a gun and demanded cash, police said. After he was refused money, he fled on foot. Police said he may have gotten into a black Toyota four-door sedan on Kapiolani Street.
The suspect is described as about 5 feet 4 inches tall or shorter and about 140 pounds. He has brown eyes. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, a hat, dark shorts, a black-and-white flannel shirt and dark rubber shoes.
