A Big Island man and woman will stand trial on charges of meth trafficking, among other drug offenses, after being arrested last week allegedly in possession of more than a pound of illegal narcotics at Kona International Airport. ADVERTISING A
A Big Island man and woman will stand trial on charges of meth trafficking, among other drug offenses, after being arrested last week allegedly in possession of more than a pound of illegal narcotics at Kona International Airport.
Rebecca S. O’Brien, 35, and Jacob D. Stone, 28, each waived rights to a preliminary hearing Monday before Kona District Court Judge Margaret Masunaga where the state would have been required to prove it had sufficient evidence to support the filed charges. The cases were subsequently remanded to 3rd Circuit Court for further proceedings.
Stone, a Waimea resident, will enter his pleas to charges of first-degree methamphetamine trafficking and possessing drug paraphernalia on Thursday before 3rd Circuit Court Chief Judge Ronald Ibarra in Kona.
O’Brien, a Kailua-Kona resident, will enter her pleas to charges of first-degree methamphetamine trafficking, two counts of first-degree promoting a dangerous drug, one count of second-degree promoting a dangerous drug, and four counts of possessing drug paraphernalia on Dec. 24 before 3rd Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Strance in Kona.
O’Brien remains held in lieu of $250,000 bail while Stone is being held on $150,000 bail. Both remain incarcerated at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday, Hawaii Police Department Area II Vice section officers served search warrants on two passengers arriving on a flight from San Francisco, according to police. The passengers, O’Brien and Stone, had been under investigation prior to the search warrant being issued at Kona International Airport.
O’Brien allegedly had on her possession six individual bundles of narcotics that police said were consistent with the importation of narcotics. The bundles contained 127.4 grams — 4.55 ounces — of a crystalline substance, 114.5 grams — 4.08 ounces — of a white powdery substance, 178.7 grams — 6.38 ounces — of a black tar-like substance and 15 grams — just over a half-ounce — of a crystalline substance.
Stone allegedly had on his possession three individual bundles of narcotics also packaged in a manner consistent with the importation of illegal drugs, according to police. The three bundles reportedly contained 91.3 grams — 3.26 ounces — of a crystalline substance.
The bundles of narcotics — totaling nearly 19 ounces in all — tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine and heroin, according to Vice Lt. Sherry Bird. The drugs have a combined street value of more than $70,000.
O’Brien and Stone were charged with the offenses shortly after noon on Thursday.
First-degree methamphetamine trafficking is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison with a mandatory minimum term of two years, according to Hawaii Revised Statutes. The felony carries a maximum fine of up to $20,000.
