46 year-old Benjamin Kawika Jerin-Kealoha of Ocean View was charged in relation to the January 21 theft of a Jeep rental car, resisting an order to stop, and methamphetamine possession offenses.

At the time of his arrest for above mentioned charges, he was also arrested for two unrelated outstanding warrants.

As the Complaint alleges, Jerin-Kealoha was charged with Theft in the First Degree (theft of a motor vehicle), Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle in the First Degree, Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree (possess any amount of methamphetamine), Resisting Order to Stop in the First Degree, and Driving Without a License. The most serious offense, Theft in the First Degree, is a class B felony and punishable by a ten-year prison term or four years probation and up to eighteen months in jail.

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

The case was initiated by Officers Mara Gaertner, Justin Uresti, and Vincent Sanekane, Kona Patrol, and the felony investigation was led by Detective Jason Foxworthy, Area II Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department.

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney