Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 9, 1 September 2009 — Palaee defendants acquitted [ARTICLE]

Palaee defendants acquitted

Donald Alfred Love-Boltz and Robert Roggasch were acquitted on assault charges stemming from a takeover of 'Iolani Palaee by the Kingdom of Hawai'i Nation in August 2008. Love-Boltz and Roggasch were among supporters of James Akahi, the group's leader, who was found guilty of misdemeanor trespassing instead of the prosecution's charge of felony burglary. Six others were also charged with burglary in the takeover, but those cases were dismissed earlier. LoveBoltz and Roggasch were accused of slamming a metal gate against Betty Jean Noelani Ah Yuen, a palaee employee. A third man charged in the assault, Nonnan Abihai, had not yet gone to trial because authorities cannot locate hini.