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COURTESY HPD
Austin Q. Joseph was arrested and charged in connection with the Apr. 3 kidnapping and robbery case of a 22-year-old woman on Kalanianaole Hwy.
Prosecutors today charged a 23-year-old man in connection with the April 3 kidnapping, sexual assault and robbery of a 22-year-old woman along Kalanianaole Highway in East Honolulu.
Honolulu police initially arrested Austin Quale Joseph, who has no local address, at 2:05 p.m. Thursday in Wahiawa on suspicion of fraudulent use of a credit card and unauthorized possession of confidential personal information.
He was formally charged with kidnapping and unauthorized possession of confidential information, according to police. Other charges are pending. Joseph remained in custody with bail set at $1 million.
Police said the woman was driving her gray 2017 Honda Civic on the highway at about 7:40 p.m. April 3 when she struck an object. When she stopped to check her car, a man forced her back into her vehicle. Police said the woman was sexually assaulted and robbed by the assailant, who brandished an unspecified weapon.
She was released with her car sometime after midnight in Windward Oahu and taken to a hospital.
Sgt. Chris Kim, coordinator of CrimeStoppers Honolulu, said police linked Joseph to the kidnapping case after he allegedly used a credit or debit card belonging to the victim.
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