A 24-year-old Hilo woman who robbed a downtown clothing store at gunpoint in January was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison. ADVERTISING A 24-year-old Hilo woman who robbed a downtown clothing store at gunpoint in January was sentenced Monday
A 24-year-old Hilo woman who robbed a downtown clothing store at gunpoint in January was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison.
Tia Nohealani Menino pleaded guilty in October to second-degree robbery and illegal place to keep a pistol. She also pleaded guilty to several misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor charges. All sentences will run concurrently and Menino will be given credit for time already served. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors dropped charges of first-degree robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, both Class A felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Menino robbed Rainbow-Jo women’s clothing boutique and Tiny Bubbles baby clothing boutique at about 11:50 a.m. Jan. 31. The stores are separate businesses with different owners at the same location, 291 Keawe St.
The store clerk, Rachel Conder, told police a woman entered the store alone, brandished a handgun and demanded all the money from Rainbow-Jo’s cash register. Conder said she took $137 from the cash register and gave the money to the suspect. Conder reported the suspect then demanded money from Conder’s purse behind the counter and “wanted to know who she was.” Conder gave her $20 from her purse. She reportedly refused to give Menino her name but handed her another $100 from Tiny Bubbles’ cash register.
Conder took a cellphone photo of the pickup truck Menino was driving and got the truck’s license plate number. She later identified Menino from a photo lineup, court documents state.
Menino told police she “just did something stupid” because “she owed her boyfriend money,” according to documents.
Deputy Prosecutor Shannon Kagawa told the court that Conder was traumatized by the robbery and quit her job at the boutique shortly afterward.
“I apologize to the victim and I apologize to the state,” Menino said during sentencing. “I will follow through with whatever consequences the state gives me.”
Kagawa said afterward the state “is satisfied” with the sentence “based on the plea agreement.”
Menino’s court-appointed attorney, Kanani Laubach, said she believes the sentence “is the best deal the state would give us with the charges and evidence that Tia was facing.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
