33 year-old Jessica Lancaster of Hilo was charged in relation to a series of recent crimes.

Her first charge was for a February 7 robbery at the Kurtistown 7-Eleven. She was also charged in relation to a February 4 Toyota Tacoma theft from the parking lot of S. Tokunaga Store. At the time of her arrest, she was also arrested for two other unrelated bench warrants.

On February 8, Lancaster made her initial appearance for the robbery case in Hilo District Court  where her bail was reduced from $5,000.00 to $2,000.00 over Prosecutors’ objections. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for today.

Yesterday, she made her initial appearance for the auto theft case in Hilo District Court where her bail was reduced from $35,000,00 to $7,000.00 over Prosecutors’ objections. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Monday, February 13.

As the first Complaint alleges, Lancaster was charged with Robbery in the Second Degree. As the second Complaint alleges, Lancaster was charged with Theft in the First Degree (theft of a Toyota Tacoma) and Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle in the First Degree. Robbery in the Second Degree and Theft in the First Degree, are both class B felony offenses 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 robbery investigation was handled by Puna Patrol. The auto theft investigation was handled by the Special Enforcement Unit, Area I Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The cases are being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Georgia Berrenberg and Kevin Soong.

 

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney