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Judge finds probable cause to charge robbery suspect
Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho has found probable cause to charge a 25-year-old man over a robbery in Susupe, where a teenager was injured after he was dragged 50 feet away from the suspect’s car.
At a preliminary hearing on Tuesday afternoon, Camacho found probable cause to believe that Benjamin Bok Lee may have committed the crimes of robbery and assault and battery.
Camacho, however, did not find probable cause to charge Lee with the crimes of robbery involving dangerous weapon, and assault with dangerous weapon. The judge dismissed the charges.
Arraignment will be on Feb. 22 at 9am.
After the hearing, Lee was remanded into the custody of the Department of Corrections.
Assistant attorney general Betsy Weintraub appeared for the government. Assistant public defender Michael Sato served as counsel for Lee.
Police detective Catherine B. Pangelinan stated her report that the victim, a 17-year-old Korean, suffered a 4-inch laceration on his right hip and that his Galaxy Samsung cellphone worth $1,000 was stolen.
Pangelinan said according to the victim, he was standing by Smile Poker in Susupe waiting for his friend when a brown Santa Fe vehicle stopped along Texas Road and the operator, Lee, was saying something to him in the afternoon of Feb. 15.
The victim walked to the driver’s window and asked Lee what was he saying. Lee asked him to use his phone, but the teenager refused.
Lee allegedly grabbed the victim’s hand that was holding the phone into the window and sped off. After driving 50 feet, Lee released the victim’s arm, causing him to fall to the ground.
During follow-up investigation, police officers spotted the vehicle and arrested Lee later that same afternoon.
