Jiu-jitsu champion heads to trial in alleged assault of off-duty Maui officer

WAILUKU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A four-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion accused of assaulting an off-duty Maui police officer is heading to trial.

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Penny Thomas, 46, pleaded not guilty in Circuit Court Thursday to third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

Investigators said Thomas, a fourth-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, punched Maui police Lt. Jan Pontanilla multiple times in the face in front of Pontanilla’s family home in Pukalani in April.

The dispute began after Thomas’ daughter was feeding baby ducks outside the Pontanillas’ home, Pontanilla’s parents previously told Hawaii News Now.

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Thomas lives down the street, and the Pontanillas said Lt. Pontanilla ran outside after hearing her mother being yelled at and tried to calm Thomas down.

Thomas was arrested on suspicion of assault against a police officer, but prosecutors charged her with third-degree assault because Pontanilla was not on duty.

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Thomas is out on $1,000 bail. Her next court date is set for August.