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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, February 11, 2010

Chanco pleads not guilty to robbery


By Jim Dooley
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Nancy Chanco, shown here testifying last month in the murder trial of Matthew Higa, has pleaded not guilty to a robbery charge.

BRUCE ASATO | The Honolulu Advertiser

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The mother of murdered toddler Cyrus Belt entered a not-guilty plea this morning to a robbery charge.

Nancy Chanco’s court appearance came on the same day that a verdict will be delivered in the trial of her child’s alleged killer.
Chanco allegedly helped rob Troy Carvalho of $7,000 Nov. 11 while she was in his car at the intersection of Auloa Street and Kalanianaole Highway, according to a police report.
Carvalho told police that while he was in his car with Chanco, a white Nissan stopped in front of him and two men emerged from it,
As one of the men began to argue with Carvalho and punch him in the face, Carvalho “felt the hands of his passenger Chanco start to grab at his pockets and remove his money,” according to a police affidavit.
Chanco “removed $7,000 from his pocket without permission,” the affidavit said.
She then fled with the men in the Nissan, according to police.
Prosecutors said Carvalho’s cash came from an insurance settlement.
Chanco was arrested by police November 23.
Circuit Judge Richard Perkins set Chanco’s bail at $25,000.
Chanco’s 23-month-old son was killed Jan. 17, 2008 when Matthew Higa, 25, allegedly threw the boy from a freeway overpass into the path of oncoming traffic below.
Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario is scheduled to deliver a verdict in the Higa murder trial this afternoon.
Chanco testified in the non-jury trial that she was not at home the morning of her son’s death.
She said she was at a downtown illegal gaming parlor, smoking crystal methamphetamine with Shelton Higa, Matthew Higa's father.
The Higas were upstairs neighbors of Chanco and her son and boyfriend in an Iolani Avenue apartment building.