Judge releases suspect from custody for domestic violence

A 22-year-old Hilo man accused of repeatedly violently attacking his 23-year-old girlfriend has been released from custody without bail by a judge.

According to police court documents, the victim stated that her boyfriend, Hunta Shaylo Wai'oli Santos, attacked her in the Puainako Town Center parking lot after her debit card was declined at O'Reilly Auto Parts.

Santos allegedly yelled at the woman, then grabbed her hair, slammed her head against the dashboard, and then punched her in the face about three times. According to the documents, he then drove into a Subway parking lot, grabbed her hair again, and hit and slapped her multiple times.

According to documents, the woman stated that while driving from Puainako to Wainaku Street, Santos continued to hit her with elbows and punches and choked her with one hand.

Santos then allegedly stopped on Wainaku Street, exited the vehicle and began throwing the woman's personal belongings out of the car. The woman then locked the car doors while Santos was outside, but the passenger window was partially rolled down and Santos allegedly grabbed her by the hair again and slammed her head against the passenger window.

That's when the victim noticed passersby nearby, according to the documents, and got out of the car – and Santos allegedly grabbed her by the hair again, threw her to the ground, lunged at her, and choked her with both hands for about 10 seconds, causing her to stop breathing. He then allegedly dragged her by her hair to the front of the car and slammed her head and shoulder into the front left bumper. The victim said Santos continued to kick and punch her in the face until a passerby intervened.

According to the documents, after she separated from Santos, the woman called 911 because Santos continued to threaten her.

Santos ordered her to get in the car and they drove home, documents say. The woman convinced Santos she was going to the hospital and drove to Wainaku Scenic Point on Highway 19, where she met officers and gave them her statement.

The victim then drove herself to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with a dislocated acromioclavicular joint and bruising and abrasions to her neck. She was treated and released.

Santos was arrested, advised of his rights and requested an attorney, documents show. He was charged with domestic violence with strangulation, a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison if convicted, and four counts of petty domestic violence.

His bail was set at $18,000.

At Santos' first appearance on Monday, Family Court Judge Darien Nagata noted that the Intake Service Center made the recommendation that Santos be released under supervision, a type of cashless bail, and Assistant Public Defender Jauwon Barron requested Santos' release. Assistant District Attorney Nathan Wersal requested conditions, noting that the attack was public, occurred in broad daylight and the victim suffered a dislocated shoulder.

Nagata granted supervised release on conditions including that he stay 100 meters away from the plaintiff, not threaten or harm her, not possess or use firearms or live ammunition, and undergo a substance abuse and anger management evaluation.

The judge ordered Santos to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on September 11.

Email John Burnett at [email protected].