32 year-old Nathan Pedro of Pahoa and 30 year-old Jackie Carter of Hilo were arrested and charged in relation to a March 24 kidnapping and robbery that occurred in the Joanne’s Lounge parking lot in Hilo.

Pedro was also charged with the attempted distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.

Wednesday afternoon, Pedro and Carter made their initial Hilo District Court appearances where Pedro’s bail was set at $1,165,000.00. and he was ordered to appear for a preliminary
hearing on April 2, 2024. Carter’s bail was set at $110,000.00 and she was ordered to appear for
a preliminary hearing on April 1, 2024.

As the Complaint alleges, Pedro was charged with 24 offenses including, Kidnapping,
Robbery in the Second Degree, Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree, Assault in the Second
Degree, Theft in the Second Degree, Unauthorized Entry Into Motor Vehicle in the First Degree,
Criminal Property Damage in the Fourth Degree, Promoting a Detrimental Drug in the Third
Degree, three counts Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the First Degree, two counts of Promoting
a Dangerous Drug in the Second Degree, four counts of Attempted Promoting a Dangerous Drug
in the First Degree, four counts of Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree, and three
counts of Promoting a Harmful Drug in the Fourth Degree.

As the Complaint alleges, Carter was charged with Kidnapping, Robbery in the Second
Degree, and Theft in the Second Degree.The most serious offenses, Kidnapping, Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the First Degree and Attempted Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the First Degree, are all class A felony offenses which carry a maximum penalty of a twenty-year prison term.

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

The cases were initiated by South Hilo Patrol. The felony narcotics investigation was
handled by the Area I Vice Section while the felony kidnapping and robbery 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.

 

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney