KAILUA-KONA — A Kailua-Kona father and son appeared in court for a preliminary hearing Tuesday after being arrested for allegedly robbing a man on Thursday.
KAILUA-KONA — A Kailua-Kona father and son appeared in court for a preliminary hearing Tuesday after being arrested for allegedly robbing a man on Thursday.
The state was unable to bring the victim to court to testify, so the rest of the hearing was delayed until 2:30 p.m. today.
Robert Deleon, 43, and Sloan Deleon, 22, were reportedly in a white 1998 Nissan Pathfinder when they picked up a 23-year-old man Wednesday night on Alii Drive.
“Once he was inside, a male passenger reportedly threatened to stab him in the neck unless he handed over the contents of his pockets. After the victim gave the suspect a cellphone, cigarettes, a lighter and cash, the occupants of the SUV ordered him out of the vehicle,” police said in a press release.
The victim was able to give police a license plate and vehicle description.
The plate came back to a woman who, when contacted by police, said she loaned the vehicle to Robert Deleon. She said he had called her to say he had broken a headlight and was going to replace it before returning it.
The victim was also shown a photo lineup, said Detective Walter Ah Mow III, and identified Sloan Deleon. He was unable to identify the other person beyond calling him an “older local male,” Ah Mow said.
Police searched for the SUV and found it at Lako and Highway 19, said Sgt. Edward Buyten.
When he approached the vehicle, he found that Robert Deleon was the only occupant. He arrested Robert Deleon on a July 18, 2014, domestic violence charge. He was charged with assault, harassment, interfering with a report of an emergency and four counts of violating court orders. His bail for those offenses was set at $32,000.
Police found Sloan Deleon at a home in Keauhou Mauka, along with Leilani Parent, 27, Kailua-Kona.
Sloan Deleon was charged with two counts of violating probation and two counts of contempt of court, with a bond set at $200,000.
Parent was arrested and charged with contempt of court and violating terms of probation. Her bail was set at $100,000.
While in custody the Deleons were arrested on suspicion of robbery as an investigation continued. West Hawaii Today incorrectly reported on Monday they were arrested and charged with the offenses earlier than they were.
On Friday, detectives searched the SUV, finding a crystalline substance suspected of being methamphetamine, a green leafy substance suspected of being marijuana and paraphernalia associated with the use and distribution of illegal drugs. Robert Deleon was then arrested on suspicion of meth trafficking, promoting a detrimental drug and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Later Friday, Robert and Sloan Deleon were each charged with first-degree robbery with bail on those offenses set at $50,000 each. Initially police investigated the case as a second-degree robbery before upgrading them when they were sent to prosecutors.
Detectives continue to investigate the drug offenses.