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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, April 23, 2009

Bail increased for 2 accused of beating Maui policeman

A Maui judge has increased bail to $500,000 each for two men charged with attempted murder for an April 4 attack in a Waihe'e, Maui, neighborhood that seriously injured an off-duty Maui police detective, the Maui News reported.

During arraignment Tuesday, brothers Steven Sauceda, 38, of Wailuku, and Leonard Sauceda Jr., 42, of Waihe'e, each pleaded not guilty to a second-degree attempted murder charge. A July 13 trial was scheduled for both men, who are being held at the Maui Community Correctional Center.

Bail had been set at $230,000 for Steven Sauceda and $235,000 for Leonard Sauceda Jr., who was also charged with second-degree criminal property damage of a truck parked in detective Jamie Becraft's driveway that night.

The men are accused of hitting Becraft with baseball bats after the 20-year police veteran went outside his house near Waihe'e Park to confront a teenage boy who was using a cast on his arm to smash mailboxes. At one point the Sauceda brothers allegedly joined the fray and beat Becraft outside his home.