Federal authorities yesterday took custody of a 34-year-old man charged with the Thursday robbery of Bank of Hawaii's Kaimuki branch.

Peter J.W. Jones, who gave no permanent local address at booking, was taken from the main police station cellblock to federal court yesterday at 11 a.m. Jones had been at the cellblock since Saturday.

Jones surrendered Saturday at the police substation in Chinatown after Honolulu CrimeStoppers released a bank surveillance photo of him in a bulletin on Friday.

Thursday's robbery at 3600 Wai'alae Ave. was reported at 2:30 p.m. The robber allegedly approached a teller, demanded money and indicated he had a weapon but none was seen. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

With Monday's charge, authorities believe they have resolved 11 of Honolulu's 12 bank robberies in 2008. The only case in which a suspect has not been arrested is the July 9 robbery of American Savings Bank in Liliha.

ILLEGAL FIREWORKS SALE DRAWS PRISON

A Honolulu man who pleaded guilty to selling illegal fireworks from his home was sentenced Monday to six months in federal prison.

Rodney Ballesteros will be placed on supervised release for three years following his prison term. U.S. District Judge David Ezra also fined him $2,000 and ordered Ballesteros to perform community service.

U.S. Attorney for Hawai'i Ed Kubo said Ballesteros was selling fireworks from his home in December 2007. Authorities seized 4,200 pounds of fireworks. Ballesteros admitted he had sold $80,000 worth of fireworks from September to December of 2007.

NOMINEES POSTED FOR BIG ISLE BENCH

Hawai'i Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon announced yesterday that he is seeking public comment on nominees for a new Family Court judgeship in the Big Island's Third Circuit (Hamakua and North/South Kohala districts).

Funding for the position was appropriated by the 2008 Legislature.

The nominees submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission are Melvin H. Fujino, Janet L.R. Garcia, Paul K. Hamano, Steven J. Kim, Henry T. Nakamoto and Andrew P. Wilson.

Anyone who would like to comment about the character and qualifications of any of the nominees before Moon makes his selection should mail, fax, or deliver their written comments to:

Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon, Supreme Court of Hawai'i, 417 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813. Statements may also be faxed to 539-4703.

Written comments must be postmarked, faxed or delivered no later than Oct. 13. Comments may be delivered to the Supreme Court Clerk's Office at 417 S. King St.

The person selected by the chief justice is subject to state Senate confirmation.

LANIKAI MAN'S DEATH CASE CLOSED

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office recently closed the case of millionaire Steven Thomas without making a determination on the circumstances of the death.

The decomposing body of Thomas, 36, was discovered July 13 below the Pali Lookout. The Lanikai resident, founder of an Internet software security company, had been missing since June 30.

The cause of death was listed as "major injuries due to fall from a height." The medical examiner, however, could not determine whether Thomas fell, jumped or was pushed. Investigations continue.

Police confirmed more than a dozen motorist sightings of Thomas either standing or sitting near a wall below the Pali Lookout, but none saw what happened. Thomas was diagnosed with a bipolar disorder in April.