22 year-old Tchok Atario aka Jtok Atarino of Hilo was arrested and charged for attempted murder, felony assault, and terroristic threatening in relation to a stabbing that occurred on the property of the Church of the Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in Hilo on June 14.

As the Complaint alleges, Atario was charged with 3 offenses including Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (intentionally engaged in conduct, which, under the circumstances as he believed them to be, constituted a substantial step in the course of conduct intended to culminate in his commission of the crime of Murder in the Second Degree, said crime being intentionally or knowingly caused the death of another person), Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree (with a dangerous instrument, a knife), and Assault in the Second Degree (cause substantial bodily injury to another person and/or cause bodily injury to another person with a dangerous instrument, a scissors). The most serious offense, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree is punishable by a life term of imprisonment with the possibility of parole. Assault in the Second Degree and Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree, are both class C felony offenses punishable by a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.

The preliminary investigation was handled by Officers Blaine Kenolio, Lam Doan, and Lawrence Kobayashi, South Hilo Patrol, and the felony investigation was handled by Detective John Balberde Area I Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Heipua Ah Loy.

The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty

(Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney)