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Molokai man ordered by the court to stay away from girlfriend

Jonathan Koko Kong has pleaded not guilty to firearm, threatening charges

WAILUKU — A Molokai man who was charged with threatening his girlfriend with a loaded rifle was released on supervision Thursday and ordered to stay away from the woman and her residence.

Jonathan Koko Kong, 25, of Maunaloa has pleaded not guilty to charges of prohibited possession of a firearm, prohibited possession of firearm ammunition, keeping a loaded firearm in an improper place, two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening and second-degree terroristic threatening.

Bail had been set at $37,000 for Koko Kong, who was arrested last week on an indictment charging him with offenses occurring Feb. 11.

At a court hearing Thursday, 2nd Circuit Judge Kelsey Kawano followed a bail study recommendation that Koko Kong be released on supervision.

Deputy Prosecutor Tracy Jones said the allegations against Koko Kong involve “threats of violence to his girlfriend with a loaded firearm.”

Koko Kong also allegedly “dangled a small puppy over a railing and threatened to shoot the puppy and make the complainant watch,” Jones said.

She said that level of threat was an indicator of “high dangerousness.”

“To not only threaten the person but make a threat of violence to a helpless animal is troubling,” Jones said.

She said police recovered a .22-caliber rifle loaded with a magazine containing three rounds of ammunition.

“The defendant did admit to using the rifle for hunting but nothing else,” Jones said.

She said Koko Kong has a conviction for felony abuse by strangulation and was facing mandatory minimum sentencing of three years and four months if convicted of first-degree terroristic threatening with a firearm.

Judge Kawano said the court was concerned by the circumstances of the alleged offense, but noted that the defendant was presumed innocent.

While granting supervised release for Koko Kong, Kawano ordered the defendant have no contact with his girlfriend and stay 100 yards away from her residence in Maunaloa.

He also was ordered to comply with COVID-19 conditions including screening and a 14-day self-quarantine.

Koko Kong said he could stay at the home of his wife’s aunt.

Jones said the puppy isn’t his. She also said Koko Kong shouldn’t have property at his girlfriend’s residence because he’s not listed as a tenant at the apartment.

A July 27 trial is set for Koko Kong.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.

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