30 year-old Kyle Pu‘u-Gustafson of Kurtistown and 27 year-old Candiace Balles of Pahoa were arrested and charged in relation to the theft and unauthorized entry into a Ford van which was originally reported stolen from the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa parking lot on November 6.

On Monday, Pu‘u-Gustafson, who was in custody in lieu of $35,000.00 bail, and Balles, who was in custody in lieu of $3,000.00 bail, made their initial Hilo District Court appearances where they were granted supervised release by Hilo District Court Judge Jeffrey Hawk over Prosecutors’ objections. They were ordered to appear for preliminary hearings on December 4, 2023.

As the Complaint alleges, Pu‘u-Gustafson was charged with Theft in the First Degree and Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle in the First Degree. Theft in the First Degree is a class B felony offense punishable by either a ten-year prison term or four years probation and up to twelve months in jail.

The Complaint also alleges that Balles was charged with Unauthorized Entry Into Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree, Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree (knowingly possess any dangerous drug, methamphetamine, in any amount), and Promoting a Detrimental Drug in the Third Degree. Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree is a class C felony offense punishable by either a fiveyear prison term or four years probation and up to twelve months in jail. Unauthorized Entry Into Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree is a misdemeanor and punishable by a maximum penalty of a one-year jail term.

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

The theft investigation was initiated by Officer Makena Naho‘oikaika of the Hawaiʻi County Police Department’s Kona Patrol while the felony investigation was handled by HPD’s Crime Reduction Unit, Area I Criminal Investigation Section.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Soong.

 

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney