Puna man sentenced to 10 years in prison after kidnapping and attacking girlfriend on Christmas Eve: Big Island Now

A Puna man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading not guilty to charges of kidnapping and assaulting his estranged girlfriend on Christmas Eve in Hilo.

Elswood E. Noeau, 45, appeared in Hilo Circuit Court where the judge handed down the sentence. He was free on bail at the time but was remanded in custody to begin serving his 10-year sentence.

On May 7, Noeau entered a no contest plea to charges of kidnapping (tying up another person with the intent to inflict physical injury) and abuse of a family or household member (physical abuse in the presence of minors who are family or household members under the age of 14).

According to police reports, the incident occurred after Noeau's estranged girlfriend arrived at his home to allow their three minor children to visit over the Christmas holidays.

Kidnapping is a Class B felony punishable by either a 10-year prison sentence or four years probation and up to 18 months in prison. Aggravated abuse is a Class C felony punishable by either a five-year prison sentence or four years probation and up to 12 months in prison.