KEALAKEKUA — Two days into a jury trial, an 18-year-old man accused of felony sex assault in connection to a 2016 rape at Old Kona Airport Park changed his plea to guilty.
In 3rd Circuit Court on Thursday, Samuel Latrik pleaded guilty as charged to five of the eight charges lodged against him by the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office. Charges included first-degree sexual assault, second-degree assault, kidnapping, third-degree sexual assault and third-degree attempted sexual assault.
The teen also pleaded no contest to terroristic threatening, first-degree sexual assault and robbery.
Latrik was one of two individuals involved in a sexual assault against a 29-year-old woman at Old Kona Airport on the soccer field on the evening of Sept. 3, 2016. Tyron Sigrah was also charged in the case.
Sigrah pleaded guilty in October to charges of first-degree sexual assault, robbery, kidnapping and second-degree assault. He was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. The Hawaii Paroling Authority has six months to set the teen’s minimum term limit.
According to the victim’s testimony Wednesday, she met the teens while she was smoking a cigarette on Kuakini Highway by the park. She accepted an invitation from Sigrah and Latrik to hang out, believing them to be friendly. However, during her brief time with them she testified the situation became uncomfortable and she decided to leave.
As she was leaving the soccer field, the woman told the court Wednesday, the boys pursued her, tackled her to the ground, held her down and took turns beating and sexually assaulting her. The victim told the court the rape only stopped when a passerby chased the boys off.
Trial on Thursday was meant to commence at 9 a.m. However, Judge Robert D.S. Kim indicated to the jury they were to take a recess until 1 p.m. During that time, the prosecutor and defense worked together to reach a plea agreement.
Prior to the jury’s return that afternoon, attorneys informed Kim they had reached an agreement.
Biven told the judge he had gone over the plea agreement with his client since 9 a.m. with a Marshallese interpreter.
“We went over the charges multiple times. We went over the plea agreement multiple times,” Biven said. “With that, I’d like to submit a change of plea form.”
Kim reviewed the change of plea with Latrik and confirmed with the teen that it was his wish to do so.
The 18-year-old quietly said “yes.”
Just above a whisper, Latrik stated either guilty or no contest as Kim asked him how he pleaded to the charges.
In return for the no contest and guilty pleas, Deputy Prosecutor Sheri Lawson said the state has agreed to concurrent sentencing. After the hearing, she added the state plans to seek 20 years.
After Latrik’s change of plea, Kim dismissed him and the jury was brought back into the courtroom. He informed jurors the case had been resolved and their services were no longer needed.
He thanked them for their time.
“Today, Mr. Latrik pled guilty as charged,” Lawson said after the jury was dismissed. “The state thanks members of the community for coming out for jury selection in this case and appreciates their attention during the two days of trial.”
After the change of plea, the victim’s parents sat in the courthouse courtyard with a sense of relief.
“I’m happy,” the victim’s mother said. “I know she (her daughter) is.”
Now that the perpetrators have pleaded guilty to their crimes against the victim, her parents hope she can move on with her recovery.
“I know she’ll never be the same,” the woman’s mother said.
The victim’s father said his daughter is still in pain and they haven’t figured out how to manage it all yet.
“This brings a sense of closure, but it’s going to become a part of her,” the woman’s father said.
The state was prepared with several witnesses to take the stand on Thursday. One of those witnesses was Brandon Morgan, the passerby who scaled the fence to get onto the soccer field to chase off Latrik and Sigrah, essentially stopping the brutal rape.
As he thought back on the case, Morgan said, it’s a relief it’s over.
“What started two years ago is finally done,” he said. “Two guys were caught — the ‘right’ two guys.”
Thinking back on that night on Sept. 3, 2016, Morgan said a person doesn’t often get moments in life where they are put in a situation with crystal-clear choices.
“I stopped because it was a knee-jerk reaction,” he said. “I realized I was gonna be the one to step up.”
Morgan added he feels like there are more good people than bad people.
“When faced with a crystal-clear choice, most people will choose good,” he said.