Man has first court date in torching of woman, 24

A 25-year-old Kaneohe man made his initial appearance in District Court on Monday after he was charged with attempted murder for allegedly dousing his girlfriend with gasoline and then igniting it with a lighter.

Bobby Young-Townsend appeared before Judge Lono Lee on charges of second-degree attempted murder and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. Second-degree attempted murder, a felony, carries a penalty of life in prison with the possibility of parole.

His preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday.

The victim, 24, suffered second- and third-degree burns to her arms, legs and back in the Jan. 18 incident. On Monday she was in the intensive care burn unit at Straub Clinic & Hospital.

According to a police affidavit, the victim and Young-Townsend argued while in a parked van on Lihikai Drive in Kahaluu after the victim said she wanted to go see her daughter. Young-Townsend said he did not believe her and accused her of seeing someone else, the affidavit said.

Townsend then grabbed a large fast-food restaurant cup filled with gasoline to a depth of about 3 inches and threw it on the victim. According to a court document, he “flicked” a lighter, but the victim pushed his hand away. He then flicked the lighter a second time, igniting the flammable liquid.

Paramedics took the woman in serious condition to Straub, where she is being treated for burns to 30 percent of her body.

Police arrested Townsend in Kailua on Thursday afternoon.

He has a criminal conviction record that includes third-degree assault, violating a temporary restraining order and harassment.