50 year-old Kaimilani Payao of Puna was arrested and charged with felony theft of a Toyota truck and felony drug possession charges.

The Toyota truck was originally reported stolen from outside a Puainako Street residence on September 21, 2022

As the Complaint alleges, Payao was charged with Theft in the First Degree (exert
unauthorized control over another person’s Toyota truck with intent to deprive them of their
property), Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle in the First Degree (exert unauthorized
control over another person’s Toyota truck without their consent), Promoting a Harmful Drug in
the Second Degree, Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree (possess any amount of
methamphetamine), and Prohibited Acts Related to Drug Paraphernalia. Theft in the First Degree and Promoting a Harmful Drug in the Second Degree are both class B felony offenses which are punishable by a maximum penalty of ten years in prison or four years probation and up to eighteen months in jail.

The case was initiated by South Hilo Patrol and the arrest was made by Officer Calvin
Furtado, Puna Patrol. The felony investigation was handled by Detective Blaine Morishita, Area
I Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Soong is prosecuting the case.

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

 

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney