Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNLKona man charged after setting self and home on fire

Kona man charged after setting self and home on fire

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Robert York Robert York

KONA (HawaiiNewsNow) - A South Kona man who set himself on fire and attempted to do the same to his ex-girlfriend has been charged with attempted murder and six other offenses.

Robert York, 27, of Honaunau was charged at 7 p.m. Thursday with second-degree attempted murder, kidnapping, first-degree terroristic threatening, first-degree arson, criminal trespassing and two counts of abuse of a family/household member.

He was held at the Kona police cellblock in lieu of $66,250 bail until his initial court appearance Friday morning.

The charges stemmed from an incident early Tuesday morning at a home on Tobacco Road in Honaunau. York reportedly set fire to the front porch of his ex-girlfriend's house and then doused her and himself with a flammable liquid and attempted to set them both on fire. After the woman's relatives pulled York away from her, York set himself on fire.

Police arrested York Wednesday when he was released from Kona Community Hospital.

The victim did not require medical attention for the injuries she received during the struggle with York.

Copyright 2012 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved. 

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