KAILUA-KONA — A preliminary hearing began Thursday for a man accused of viciously beating a bystander on Sept. 5 in Kailua Village.
Darrell Oates is facing charges of second-degree assault and summons or arrest on probation for the alleged assault just south of the former Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. on Alii Drive.
The incident, witnessed by an island visitor and local businesses, spurred a West Hawaii Today in-depth look into security concerns in Kailua Village that published Monday.
At Oates’s preliminary hearing Thursday, Hawaii Police Department Officer Patrick Robinson took the stand, recounting his encounter with Oates the day of the assault.
He said Oates was arrested at his Alii Drive residence. He observed abrasions on the man’s knuckles, and when arrested, Oates made a spontaneous statement saying that he was going to go to jail for the rest of his life and that he lost his mind.
Robinson said he also spoke to the victim in the parking lot of the Kona Seaside Hotel while he was sitting in an ambulance. He observed a 2- to 3-inch laceration under the victim’s eye as well as bruising and swelling on both eyes.
After the officer’s testimony, the hearing was continued to Oct. 28.
Oates was initially arrested the day of the assault, Sept. 5. He made his initial appearance in District Court before Judge Margaret Masunaga on Sept. 9 where bail was maintained at $5,000. He was released Sept. 10 on his own recognizance because the preliminary hearing could not be held within two days as required by law.
Oates previously pleaded no contest and received a deferred acceptance on a 2018 third-degree assault charge. For that charge, he is free on $500 bail. He will be resentenced for the 2018 assault charge on Oct. 23 by Judge Melvin H. Fujino.