34 year-old Jerald Cline of Volcano was charged with felony abuse, assault, and terroristic threatening in relation to an August 18, 2022 incident at a Fern Forest residence.

As the Complaint alleges, Cline was charged with Felony Abuse of a Family or Household Member (physically abuse family or household member by impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood by applying pressure on the throat or the neck with any part of the body or a ligature), misdemeanor Abuse of a Family or Household Member, Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree (with the use of a dangerous instrument, a bat), Assault in the Second Degree (intentionally or knowingly cause bodily injury to another person with a dangerous instrument, a bat), and Assault in the Second Degree (cause substantial bodily injury, a serious concussion, to another person).

Felony Abuse, Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree, and Assault in the Second Degree are all class C felony offenses which carry a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. Review of Court minutes indicate that at the time of the alleged offenses, Cline was on supervised release for two other unrelated felony matters and was wanted for two outstanding warrants related to revocation of his supervised release.

The case was initiated by Officer Michael Sailer, Puna Patrol, and the felony investigation was handled by the Area I Juvenile Aid Section, Hawai‘i Police Department.  Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Nathan Wersal will handle the case.

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

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