Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that 62 year-old Mitchell Wailani, Jr. of Hilo was charged in relation to a January 23rd incident following the report of gunshots on Kalanikoa Street in Hilo.

As the Complaint alleges, Wailani was charged with 10 offenses including Reckless Endangering in the Second Degree (discharge a firearm in a populated or residential area and/or in the boundaries or direction of any road, street, or highway), three counts of Ownership or Possession of Firearm Prohibited (felon in possession of a modified or short-barreled AR-15 rifle, a 9mm pistol, and another AR-15 rifle), two counts of Ownership or Possession of Ammunition Prohibited (felon in possession of 9mm and .223 caliber ammunition), and three counts of Manufacturing, Purchasing, or Obtaining Firearm Parts to Assemble a Firearm Having No Serial Number, and a single count of Ownership Prohibited (manufacture, possess, or acquire a rifle with a barrel length of less than sixteen inches).

Wailani made his initial appearance yesterday in Hilo District Court. His bail was maintained at $33,500.00 and he was ordered to appear for his preliminary hearing on Friday, January 28,  in Hilo District Court.

The case was handled by Officers Dustin Chaves, Boyd Bangloy, and Jayce Carvalho, 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 Roland Talon.

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

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office