Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that 46 year-old Captain Blackwell of Puna, who was charged in relation to the theft of a telehandler forklift from a Puna business, is back in custody.

On March 18, 2022, Blackwell was arrested by Puna Patrol Officers on an outstanding Information charging bench warrant. He was originally charged via Complaint in Hilo District Court, and was out of custody after being granted supervised release over Prosecutors’ objections. Prosecutors elected to proceed via Information charging prior to Blackwell’s preliminary hearing in Hilo District Court on March 14, 2022 and secured the issuance of the $25,000.00 bench warrant.

As the Information alleges, Blackwell, a repeat offender with prior felony convictions for Burglary in the First Degree, Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle, and Place to Keep Pistol or Revolver, was charged with Theft in the First Degree (exert unauthorized control over the property of another, a telehandler forklift, valued over $20,000, with the intent to deprive the owner of the property). If convicted as charged, Blackwell faces sentencing to a mandatory minimum prison term without the possibility of parole. Theft in the First Degree is a class B felony and carries a maximum penalty ten year prison term.

The investigation was handled by Officers Keaolapule Fessenden-Grace, Calvin Furtado, and Robert Kamau, Puna Patrol and Detective Jeremy Kubojiri, Area I Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Soong.

The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office