Waimea man charged with robbery, assault posts bail

KEALAKEKUA — The Waimea man facing robbery and assault charges stemming from a violent confrontation with two visitors at Hapuna Beach Park on Monday will not make his initial court appearance until next month.

Herbert A. M. Lee, 30, posted $7,000 bail ahead of what would have been his initial appearance in Kona District Court on Friday. He faces charges of second-degree robbery and two counts third-degree assault.

Lee will now make his initial court appearance on March 21 where he will have the choice to waive his right to or request a preliminary hearing where prosecutor’s must show probable cause to support the charges to move the case to Circuit Court. A grand jury indictment could also be handed down between now and then sending the case directly to Circuit Court for adjudication.

The three charges filed against Lee stem from an incident reported shortly before 5 p.m. Monday at Hapuna Beach Park in South Kohala. When police arrived, a man and woman, both 64 years old and from Sacramento, California, told police that as they were leaving the park on bicycles, a truck drove into the park using the exit lane, forcing the bikes to veer off the road. The male bicyclist then shouted at the driver, according to police.

A short time later, while the bicyclists were at Hapuna Beach and Old Puako roads, the truck approached them. The driver, identified as Lee, exited the truck, allegedly assaulted both bicyclists, took the man’s cellular phone and then fled when a Good Samaritan tried to intervene. Medics treated the two assault victims at the scene, according to police.

Police said further investigation led them to identify the suspect at Lee, who was taken into custody Wednesday morning and charged the following day.

A search of the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, administered by the state Department of the Attorney General, turned up no criminal record for Lee.