Kauai Island of Retaliation: Six Months of County Council Drama and a Year in Jail After Putin Dupe Passes Along ‘Threat’ from Schizophrenic

KNN June 13, 2024: … Over a month after local artist Glen Gruenhagen was handed a year-long jail sentence for allegedly threatening Councilman Billy DeCosta through a handmade poster in January, a recently obtained record of a heated private meeting among county staff reveals the man had come to the Historic County Building in Lihuʻe begging for help, claiming DeCosta had been harassing him in Kōkeʻe for years.

(The entire Kauai County Council gets its chain yanked by a schizophrenic.  Keep reading.)

“He was frightened, and he was blown away that the person who terrified him for years, this is his story, had become an elected official,” said Councilwoman Felicia Cowden during the Jan. 18 executive session, the day before Gruenhagen’s arrest on Jan. 19. 

Cowden, who had spoken with Gruenhagen at length before leaving the document on DeCosta’s desk herself on Jan. 12, said she found Gruenhagen’s story credible because of her own negative experiences with the councilman.

“I believed Glen’s story right away because it felt so much like what I’ve endured myself,” she said in a recent interview.

(Birds of a feather.)

DeCosta declined to be interviewed about the case but adamantly denied the allegations during the executive session. …

DeCosta then shared the story of his encounter with Gruenhagen, which he had also written about in a similar statement submitted to the court.

DeCosta described meeting Gruenhagen “maybe 10 to 13 years ago” in a park in Kōke’e while on a teaching trip with his students.

Gruenhagen was with a “curious” dog and refused DeCosta’s request to put his pet on a leash. “He told me, ‘No, my dog was here first and can play in the park,’” DeCosta said.

DeCosta replied that Gruenhagen’s dog might bite a kid, and the “next thing you know, the dog bit a kid.” A parent then called the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to report the incident. 

The next day, DeCosta said he and his students returned to the park and found the dog had been “skinned out” into a pelt, with a note from Gruenhagen that implied DeCosta had made him kill his dog. …

 “That man is very much not stable if he can kill his own pet,” he said. “It would be more easy to deal with a regular person than to deal with someone like this who can kill and skin their pet,” he continued. …

During the meeting, Cowden claimed that her fear of DeCosta was a major factor in her decision to not notify DeCosta of the message. She alleged that DeCosta gives her hateful looks and has put her in very dangerous situations. 

“I am afraid to leave a message for Billy. I felt like Billy can just handle this because I know how Billy makes me feel,” she said. 

She continued, “I am afraid of you, Billy. I am afraid of you.” 

DeCosta then replied that Cowden had made the entire incident about herself.

“It is not about you,” he said, as Cowden repeated, “I am afraid of you.” …

As previously reported, Gruenhagen was arrested on first-degree terroristic threatening charges a week after bringing a document, described by police as a “threatening letter,” to the Historic County Building in Lihuʻe on Jan. 12.

Despite two out of three doctors reporting he was unfit to proceed, Gruenhagen continued with a plea deal under Fifth Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Watanabe on May 7 that sentenced him to a year in jail for the lesser charge of terroristic threatening in the second degree. …

read … Colleague alleges jailed artist’s letter for Kauaʻi councilman was a complaint, not a threat

  *   *   *   *   *

May 8, 2024: Concerns raised over Kaua’i artist sentenced to a year in jail for ‘threatening’ councilman in plea deal – “In court, Watanabe stated that two out of three psychological doctors who examined Gruenhagen found him unfit to proceed. Despite this, Calma confirmed that his client was prepared to stipulate being fit to proceed, a decision also influenced by a plea agreement. “The consideration for this is that there has been a plea agreement reached,” Watanabe said.  Gruenhagen noted being on abilify, an antipsychotic medication known to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. He stated that the medication keeps him “in the middle of the road” and affirmed that his mind was clear. 

News Release: Suspect arrested following threats made against county council member -- News release from Kauai PD,  January 19, 2024

CB: Kauai County Councilman Is Put On Leave From State Teaching Job

KITV: DOE officials couldn't confirm if there is a connection between the threat and his leave from the school.

2019: After Lying About it, Anti-GMO Kauai Councilmember Cowden Accepts Russia Junket from Putin

2019: Anti-GMO? Regressive Left Just as Russian as Trump

2022:  Feds Indict Russian Agent -- Organized Kauai Council Junket to Russia