Authorities yesterday charged a 22-year-old man with manslaughter in the beating death of a fellow inmate at Hälawa Correctional Facility.

James Gouveia, 22, was charged with manslaughter, police spokeswoman Michelle Yu said. Bail was set at $250,000, she said.

Gouveia is accused of causing fatal injuries to Monte Louis Young Jr., 46, on Wednesday. Gouveia and Young were inmates at Hälawa prison.

Police were told that Young was arguing with Gouveia about 8:30 a.m. when the younger man punched Young several times.

Young was found lying in the prison recreation yard and was taken to the facility's clinic.

City paramedics were called to the prison and rushed Young to The Queen's Medical Center, where he later died.

Young was serving a 100-year sentence for the May 10, 1997, unprovoked killing of a stranger at the University Avenue Burger King restaurant.

Prosecutors said Young hit Paul Ulbrich on the head with a claw hammer at least three times. Young attacked Ulbrich after asking him for the time and for money, and became angry when Ulbrich did not have a watch or money, prosecutors said.

Young was convicted of murder and the Hawaii Paroling Authority set a minimum 100-year prison term.

Gouveia was imprisoned following a 2006 auto theft conviction.