A grand jury today indicted Mayor Billy Kenoi following an investigation into his use of a county purchasing card.
A grand jury today indicted Mayor Billy Kenoi following an investigation into his use of a county purchasing card.
The indictment followed testimony from a handful of county officials past and present.
Deputy Attorney General Kevin Takata declined to comment on the charge or charges Kenoi would face immediately following the indictment. He referred questions to Attorney General Douglas Chin, who in a later press release said Kenoi faced eight charges.
Following the indictment, Hilo Circuit Court Judge Glenn Hara issued a bench warrant for the mayor’s arrest. He will be released on his own recognizance.
The charges filed against Kenoi are:
Counts 1 and 2: Theft in the Second Degree, Class C felonies each punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Counts 3 and 4: Theft in the Third Degree, misdemeanors each punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Counts 5, 6 and 7: Tampering with a Government Record, misdemeanors each punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Count 8: False Swearing, a petty misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
“The Department of the Attorney General sought this indictment after an intensive investigation that lasted almost a year. I thank the investigators and prosecutors for their efforts,” Chin said.