Hilo man charged after assault on pregnant woman and toddler

A Hilo home on Lehua Street became the scene of a domestic violence case that police say left a pregnant woman bruised and swollen, a toddler injured, and a 16-month-old child exposed to the assault. The allegations have now led to felony and misdemeanor charges against 43-year-old Chezare Christopher Torres, with his case set to return to court in September.

Police say the May 20 incident started inside the Hilo residence, where Torres allegedly struck his 29-year-old pregnant girlfriend multiple times in the face and hit a 2-year-old several times with a baseball cap. Investigators reported bruising and swelling to the bridge of the woman’s nose, while the toddler suffered redness and swelling to the arm and forehead. The couple’s 16-month-old child was also present during the attack, deepening the concern around safety in the home.

Torres was arrested on May 28 after police obtained a warrant. He made his first court appearance on June 2, when bail remained set at $85,000. The court scheduled a further proceedings hearing for Sept. 2.

Prosecutors charged Torres with felony abuse of a family or household member because a child under 14 was present and because the alleged abuse involved impeding breathing or circulation by pressure on the throat or neck. The charging document also includes misdemeanor abuse, second-degree terroristic threatening and second-degree unlawful imprisonment. Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Brittny Marino and Kirsten Selvig are handling the case.

The most serious count, felony abuse, is a class C felony in Hawaii. It carries a possible five-year prison term or five years’ probation, along with up to one year in jail. For Hawaii County, the case is a reminder that domestic violence can quickly become a criminal matter with consequences for infants, toddlers and unborn children, not just the adults directly involved.

The county’s police department lists Crime Stoppers island-wide at (808) 961-8300 and the Hilo non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 for people with information. Across the state, domestic violence advocates work through a coalition of at least 20 agencies and programs, while the Hawaii Department of Health continues fatality reviews to identify prevention strategies for men, women and children. Public-health data also show the problem remains widespread among youth, with 23.2% of Hawaii public middle school students reporting emotional control or harm by a dating partner in the past year and 15.6% reporting sexual coercion or physical harm.