35 year-old Jan Loren Aguinaldo and 49 year-old Timothy Guiteras, both of Papaikou, were charged with agriculture theft from Hawai‘i Sunshine Orchards.

According to police reports, Aguinaldo is charged in relation to a March 5 incident, where he is alleged to have stolen 30 pounds of rambutan and cut branches while Guiteras is charged in relation to a March 8 incident where he is alleged to have stolen over 190 pounds of banana.

Yesterday afternoon, both men made their initial Hilo District Court appearances where Aguinaldo’s bail was maintained at $40,000.00 and Guiteras’ bail was maintained at $5,000.00. They were ordered to appear for preliminary hearings on March 12.

As the Complaint alleges, Aguinaldo is charged with Theft in the Second Degree (exert unauthorized control over another’s property, rambutan, which is an agriculture commodity generally known to be marketed for commercial purposes), Habitual Property Crime, and Criminal Property Damage in the Fourth Degree.

Guiteras is charged with Theft in the Second Degree (exert unauthorized control over another’s property, banana, which is an agriculture commodity generally known to be marketed for commercial purposes). Theft in the Second Degree and Habitual Property Crime are both class C felony offenses and carry a penalty of either a five year prison term or four years probation and up to twelve months in jail.

The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

 

HPD Photo