41 year-old Ross Richard Piper of Ocean View was arrested and charged with felony theft of a Hyundai Elantra and fentanyl possession.

The Hyundai was originally reported stolen from an Ocean View business on November 4, 2022

Piper made his initial appearance in Kona District Court on Friday, December 2 where Defense counsel’s motion for a bail reduction was granted over Prosecutors’ objection and Piper’s bail was reduced from $45,000.00 to $10,000.00.

As the Complaint alleges, Piper was charged with Theft in the First Degree (exerting unauthorized control over a Hyundai Elantra without the owner’s permission with intent to deprive them of their property), Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle in the First Degree (exerting unauthorized control over another’s Hyundai Elantra without their consent), and Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree (possessing any amount of fentanyl). The most serious offense, Theft in the First Degree, is a class B felony which is punishable by a maximum penalty of ten years in prison or four years probation and up to eighteen months in jail.

The case was initiated by Officers James Lorenzo and Xylon Takata, Kau Patrol, and the arrest was made by Officer Elijah Won, Kona Patrol. The felony investigation was handled by Detective Steven Grace, Area II Criminal Investigation Section, and Officer Chandler Nacino, Area II Vice Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Annaliese Wolf

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

 

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney