Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that 28 year-old Ashton Silva-Cuba of Waimea was charged in relation to two residential burglaries on December 30th and 31st , from the same Pohakulani Street home in Hilo, and for theft and fraudulent use of credit card charges.

The Complaint alleges that Silva-Cuba, a felony repeat offender, was charged with 7 offenses including two counts each of Burglary in the First Degree (unauthorized entry into a dwelling with intent to commit theft) and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card, and a single count each of Unauthorized Possession of Personal or Confidential Personal Information, Habitual Property Crime, and Theft of Credit Card.

If convicted as charged, Silva-Cuba faces sentencing to a mandatory minimum prison term without the possibility of parole. The most serious offense, Burglary in the First Degree is a class B felony and carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The investigation was handled by Officers Lauren Pacheco, Edwin Namohala, and Levi Comila, South Hilo Patrol and Detective Clarence Davies, 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.

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office