Man extradited to Maui allowed to return to California

Sistar, accused of taking his son out of state, was beaten in Maui jail

WAILUKU — A man who allegedly took his teenage son out of state in April in violation of a custody order was released on supervision Thursday and allowed to return to California.

Jeremy Sistar, 51, was ordered to abide by Family Court orders involving his son and to call in or appear by video for a pretrial conference Feb. 8 in 2nd Circuit Court.

Sistar has pleaded not guilty to first-degree custodial interference and disobedience of public health emergency rules.

During a court hearing Thursday, his attorney, Jill Uehara, asked for Sistar to be released from jail, as recommended in a bail study.

After being brought to Maui to face the charges, Sistar was “gravely injured” in an attack at the Maui Community Correctional Center, Uehara said.

According to the state Department of Public Safety, Sistar was assaulted by another inmate Sept. 5 and was taken to the hospital for evaluation and treatment of injuries before being returned to the jail Sept. 10.

Uehara said Sistar, a commercial truck driver, suffered a concussion, as well as broken bones, in the attack. She said Sistar’s injuries were documented in over 200 pages of medical records.

“He faces irreparable harm to his vision and eyes if he does not receive follow-up treatment,” she said.

She said he needs additional treatment to avoid disfigurement.

The Wailuku jail “is not a safe place for him,” Uehara said.

“He faces potential future assault and potential death if he’s assaulted again while in custody,” she said.

She said Sistar is a Marine Corps veteran who faces loss of his veterans housing in San Diego if he doesn’t return there.

Special Deputy Attorney General Jared Brickey objected to releasing Sistar and allowing him to return to California.

Before he was extradited back to Maui in August, Sistar had been ordered to immediately bring the child back to the island during a June 23 court hearing, Brickey said.

“The state has serious concerns about the defendant being a flight risk and also that he took the child out of the state during the pandemic without permission from the court,” Brickey said.

Judge Peter Cahill said that, based on a review of documents supporting the charges, there was no indication that Sistar’s son was being compelled to get on the flight leaving Maui with Sistar.

Cahill said Sistar was on notice about the consequences of violating court orders.