Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that 36 year-old Johnathan Barros of Puna was charged for robbery and unauthorized control of a Toyota Camry in relation to a September 8th incident within the parking lot of a Hilo business.

As the Complaint alleges, Barros was charged with Robbery in the Second Degree (use of force against another person in the course of committing theft or taking of a motor vehicle) and Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle in the First Degree (unauthorized control of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent). The most serious offense, Robbery in the Second Degree, is a class B felony offense that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Review of court records indicate that at the time of the alleged offenses, Barros was pending revocation of his felony probation, having been granted supervised release over Prosecutors’ objections in August.

The investigation was initiated by Officers Lawrence Kobayashi and Greg Matias, South Hilo Patrol. The arrest and follow up investigation was handled by Detective Blaine Morishita, Area I Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lucas Burns. The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Hawai’i County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office