48 year-old Kris Villasista was arrested and charged in relation to the theft of a Toyota 4Runner reported, which was stolen from a Honoka‘a residence on March 1, theft of a Honda all-terrain vehicle (“ATV”) reported stolen from an O‘okala residence on March 4, and possession of methamphetamine.

As the Complaint alleges, Villasista was charged with two counts of Theft in the First
Degree (theft of a motor vehicle, a Toyota 4Runner and Honda ATV), two counts of
Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle in the First Degree, Promoting a Dangerous Drug
in the Second Degree (possess over one-eighth of an ounce of methamphetamine), and Habitual
Property Crime. Theft in the First Degree and Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Second Degree are both class B felony offenses which carry a maximum penalty of a ten-year prison term. If convicted as
charged, Villasista is subject to a mandatory prison term and will not be eligible for probation.

The cases were initiated by HPD’s Hamakua/North Hilo Patrol while the felony investigation was
handled by the Hawaiʻi County Police Department’s Crime Reduction Unit, Area I Criminal Investigation Section.

The cases are 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: Hawai’i County Prosecuting Attorney