Maui Felon Arrested for Refusing to Provide DNA Sample

Felony arrest. Maui Now graphic by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

A Maui man, who has a felony conviction, was arrested for refusing to submit a DNA sample, according to information released today by the state Attorney General’s Office.

Authorities say John P. Dunbar Jr., 60, of Haʻikū, was arrested on Friday, Aug. 22, by patrol officers and officers and officers assigned to the Maui Police Department’s Crime Reduction Unit for refusing to provide the DNA sample.

According to information released by the AG’s office, Dunbar had been convicted of second degree escape in June of 2005, a felony offense under which he was advised of a legal requirement to provide a DNA sample.

Officials note that all unsupervised convicted felons are required by law to comply with the DNA swab request, or face a misdemeanor charges punishable by up to one year in jail or up to a $2,000 fine.

Authorities say the law applies to all convicted felons, even if their conviction occurred before the passage of the law in 2005.

“This case is the result of the Attorney General’s on-going law enforcement effort to swab thousands of unsupervised felons in the State of Hawaiʻi,” said department officials in a press release statement.

Among the agencies participating in the joint effort are the state Attorney General Investigations Division DNA Swabbing Unit, the US Marshals Service, the Maui Police Department, and the Maui Prosecutors office.

Department officials advise convicted felons that have not yet been swabbed to contact the Attorney General Investigations Division to make arrangements to provide a DNA sample, a  process that takes approximately ten minutes to complete.

“I thank the various law enforcement agencies that have assisted our office in ensuring that state law is followed and that convicted felons who refuse to provide DNA samples are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Louie in a department press release today. “The DNA collection program has already assisted law enforcement in closing unsolved crimes,” he said.  

The state Attorney Generals Office notes that the recent arrest does not constitute a conviction and Dunbar is presumed innocent of the allegations until found guilty of the alleged criminal offense by a court.