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Man allegedly made threats, kept ex-girlfriend from leaving apartment

WAILUKU — A Kihei man was arrested after he allegedly prevented his ex-girlfriend from leaving his apartment, kicked her and stabbed a body pillow she was holding, according to police.

Jose Godinez Moreno, 28, was charged with kidnapping, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, first-degree terroristic threatening, abuse and third-degree assault.

The woman reported going to Godinez Moreno’s apartment at Paradise Gardens at 851 S. Kihei Road at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday when he became upset because she refused to get back together with him, according to a declaration filed in court to support the charges.

When she tried to leave through a sliding-glass door, he grabbed her, carried her back into the apartment and had her sit on the couch while he blocked the sliding-glass door, she told police. She again tried to leave by running out the front door when he grabbed her hair and pulled her back in, police reported.

He threw her on the ground and began kicking her before taking her into the bedroom and throwing her on the bed, according to the declaration.

She was holding a full-body pillow when Godinez Moreno went into the kitchen and returned with a knife that he used to make stabbing motions toward her, the woman told police. Then he stabbed the pillow with the knife, according to the declaration.

She was allowed to leave after about an hour and a half, she told police.

Godinez Moreno was arrested at his apartment the next day, police records show.

He appeared by videoconference from the courthouse cellblock for his initial appearance Wednesday in Wailuku District Court.

Deputy Prosecutor Lewis Littlepage asked for bail to remain at the $57,000 set by police, who had charged Godinez Moreno with a more serious form of kidnapping. He is a danger to the victim and a flight risk, Littlepage said. He said Godinez Moreno has been in the state for two years and has a California driver’s license.

Deputy Public Defender Gustavo Gonzalez asked for Godinez Moreno to be released on supervision. He has a full-time job and friends in the community, Gonzalez said.

Judge Chris Dunn reduced bail to $27,000 based on the reduction in charges.

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

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