LIHU‘E — The defendant accused of damaging the doors and windows of retail outlets at Kukui Grove Center on Dec. 19 refused to appear for her fitness hearing Tuesday in 5th Circuit Court. Judge Kathleen Watanabe said at the hearing
LIHU‘E — The defendant accused of damaging the doors and windows of retail outlets at Kukui Grove Center on Dec. 19 refused to appear for her fitness hearing Tuesday in 5th Circuit Court.
Judge Kathleen Watanabe said at the hearing that Patricia Lewis, 31, of Lihu‘e, had refused to be transported to court from Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center. She was to appear for a status on reports regarding her mental fitness for trial.
Without objection from County Second Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Vogt, or from State Deputy Public Defender Samuel Jajich, the judge allowed the hearing without the defendant present.
Jajich said that he experienced a delay in the release of records from the probation department that necessitated a two-week continuance. The judge added that the medical examiners also requested additional time to complete their assessments after Lewis refused to grant consent to review certain documents, Watanabe said.
Watanabe continued the status hearing on the 704 motion to March 12.
Lewis is accused of damaging store windows and an ATM machine with a baseball bat. She is charged with second-degree criminal property damage, a class C felony; third-degree criminal property damage, a misdemeanor; and attempted first-degree criminal property damage, a class B felony.
Until the fitness the motion is resolved, the tentative trial date of May 28 remains off the court calendar.
