Kauaʻi grand jury indicts Billy Sinclair on all 28 counts following homicide in Hanalei

A Kauaʻi grand jury in Līhuʻe indicted 51-year-old William “Billy” Sinclair of Kīlauea on all 28 counts he was charged with, including second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder and multiple weapons offenses, Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like announced Wednesday.

Sinclair is accused of causing the death of Sergio “Tito” Reyes Hernandez in the bathroom at a Mexican restaurant in Hanalei after Reyes’ cooking shift ended on the night of June 5. Kauaʻi police said during a press conference that the two men had a financial dispute.

A few hours later in the early morning of June 6, Sinclair also allegedly fired several shots at Shey Furgeson, who was inside his car on a road outside Sinclair’s home in Kīlauea. In a probable cause statement, it says Furgeson was hit by an object, which a police officer believed to be a bullet, that grazed the left side of his head ” like millimeters from going through” his skull.

Following the grand jury proceeding, Sinclair’s case was moved from the Fifth District Court to the Fifth Circuit Court, where Chief Judge Michael Soong issued a No Bail Warrant at the state’s request. Sinclair, who was in custody, has been served with the warrant, and his arraignment will be heard Thursday morning at 8 a.m. in courtroom 4.

The most serious accounts of murder and attempted murder each can be punished by up to a $50,000 fine and life imprisonment.

The indictment also charges Sinclair with two counts of carrying or using a firearm in a commission of a felony, as well as possessing 20 firearms, three silencers and ammunition that he is prohibited from possessing as a convicted felon.

In the probable cause statement, it said Sinclair does not have a criminal record in the State of Hawaiʻi database, but that he does have three felony convictions in California for second degree robbery, participating in a criminal street gang and assaulting a person with a firearm. The probable cause statement also said this “does not reflect all the offenses he had been arrested and convicted for.”

The current charges against Sinclair say he had the following guns illegally in his possession: a Glock 9mm caliber pistol, a two-shot David Industries .22 caliber pistol, a Polymer 80 semiautomatic handgun, a multicolored 300 AAC Blackout 7.62 caliber short barrel rifle, a black Radikal NK1 12-gauge shotgun, a black unmarked rifle, Optima 50 caliber black powder rifle, unbranded AR 15, Black Palmetto State Armory PA15 rifle, Black Rossi RS22 rifle and a Black Palmetto State Armory AR rifle.

Each of those offenses is punishable by a maximum fine of $25,000 and up to 10 years in prison.

He also was charged for having illegal ammunition, a black suppressor (silencer) and a black Bulldog Case sock case containing a multicolored AR upper with suppressor. Each of these charges if punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000 and up to five years in jail.

The indictment subjects Sinclair to possible extended sentencing as a multiple offender.

The probable cause statement said police officers arrived at Federico’s Fresh Mex Cuisine in Hanalei and learned that Reyes was deceased after medics on scene examined him. It said Reyes had two puncture wounds to his chest and another puncture wound to the left forearm.

In the documents, Reyes’ seven-year girlfriend who was the one who discovered his body, told officers that they had lived in the house for several years. But in January, Sinclair moved in with his wife Haley Belmonte, whose father owned the house until his death.

The girlfriend said they moved out because of fighting between the other couple. That is when she said a dispute began over damages to the home. Sinclair and Belmonte told them they owed $10,000 to $12,000, according to the probable cause statement.

Furgeson was at the Wilcox Medical Center emergency room when he told police he had only spoken to Sinclair once and had never any any other interactions with him.

Furgeson said he was driving his sisterʻs Lexus and was stopped at a stop sign in front of Sinclair’s home on Kīlauea Road at about 3 or 4 a.m. when he heard gunshots coming from that home. Furgeson said he didn’t see anyone or any weapons because it was dark, but he did hear six gunshots.

Furgeson said there were two bullet holes in the Lexus he was driving, one right in front of the door and another right on the pillar of the car. He believes a third bullet is the one that grazed his head.

Police found in the probable cause document that items were found in a locked safe in Sinclair’s home that belonged to Reyes, including a black Calvin Klein bi-fold wallet, identification cards, a passport, a set of keys with a red-colored key, and a set of keys with an orange-colored “Pochita” charm (a cartoon character from the anime “Chainsawman”).

Sinclair was captured in waters off of Kapa’a Public Library after leading police on a two-day manhunt.

Reyes’ family shared a message via their GoFundMe page.

“Thank you for every donation, message, phone call, prayer and kind word,” said Maria Hernandez, Reyes’ former boss who started the page.

“Our family is truly grateful for the way this community has come together to honor Tito and support those who loved him most. During a tragedy like this, every bit of love and support means more than words can explain.

“As we now begin to navigate life without Tito, we ask that you continue to keep Tito, his family, and everyone grieving his loss in your thoughts and prayers,” she said.