An Oahu grand jury indicted a 19-year-old man accused of crimes against a senior citizen.The indictment alleges Noah Perkins threatened a 73-year-old man who had a restraining order against him and also broke into the man’s home and stole items.
Perkins allegedly entered the home three times between August 11 and August 16, 2011.
He is accused of verbally threatening the man once and leaving behind a threatening note on another occasion.
Previously, Perkins would have been charged with misdemeanors.
But a newly enacted law increases the penalties for crimes against victims of domestic abuse and senior citizens.
Perkins was charged with first-degree terroristic threatening, a Class C felony, and first-degree unauthorized entry into a dwelling, a Class B felony.
He was also charged with first-degree burglary, a Class B felony.
He faces maximum prison terms of 10 years for the Class B felonies and five years for the Class C felony.
On May 26, 2011, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed Act 063 into law. Known as the “Protect Victims of Domestic Violence Act,” it amended criminal offenses to include threats against persons covered by protective orders or restraining orders.
On July 5, 2011, Abercrombie signed into law Act 187, which created a Class B felony for first-degree unauthorized entry into a dwelling, based on the occupant’s age or incapacity.
Both bills were supported by the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney.
