Hilo fighter charged with manslaughter following barfight

By JOHN BURNETT

Tribune-Herald staff writer

A 21-year-old amateur mixed martial arts fighter has been charged with manslaughter for the death of a 44-year-old man after a fight outside a Hilo sports bar.

Bail for Waylen Keone Carenio of Hilo has been set at $50,000, according to Lt. Greg Esteban of the police Criminal Investigations Section.

Carenio is being held in the police cellblock pending his initial court appearance this afternoon in Hilo District Court.

The victim was identified by police as 44-year-old Roy Joseph Williams Jr. of Mountain View. Williams was found unconscious in the roadway shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday outside Karma Hawaii sports bar on Makaala Street in the Kanoelehua Industrial Area.

Witnesses told police that Williams had been in a fight with another man, later identified as Carenio, and that Williams had fallen and struck his head on the pavement.

Esteban said an autopsy performed Tuesday indicated the cause of death was "intracranial injury due to blunt force trauma to the head." Asked if the trauma was caused by Williams' head hitting the pavement, Esteban replied: "That's consistent with that."

Karma Hawaii owner Summer Mochida told the Tribune-Herald Monday that the fight didn't happen on the bar's grounds. Esteban said there is "no information to support" that the altercation started inside the drinking establishment.

Carenio turned himself in Monday morning at the Waimea police station. He was initially booked on suspicion of first-degree assault, according to a police log, but the investigation turned to suspicion of second-degree murder later in the day.

The charge of manslaughter, a felony which carries a possible 20-year prison term, was lodged at 3:55 p.m. Tuesday.

"It has to do with state of mind," Esteban said, noting the charge was filed after conferring with prosecutors. The manslaughter charge indicates that authorities believe the killing was reckless rather than intentional.

According to court records, Carenio was on probation for domestic abuse when the incident occurred. On Feb. 16, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced by Family Court Judge Lloyd Van De Car to 30 days in jail, with all but two days stayed, and two years probation.

Carenio has fought on Just Scrap, X-1 and Destiny MMA fight cards. He also has competed as an amateur surfer and, according to a page devoted to him on Hilo Surfboard Company's website, he won the Pohoiki Paka event in 2008. The page stated his goal was "to become the first Surf/MMA competitor from Hawaii consistently winning in both sports."

According to court records, Williams was arrested by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in December 2005 for possession with intent to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine. On Sept. 25, 2006, he was sentenced to five years in prison.