KEALAKEKUA — A Kona teen accused of a slew of business break-ins waived his right to a preliminary hearing in District Court Monday afternoon.
Judge Diana Van De Car questioned 19-year-old Rodney Kahele Jr. on his understanding of waiving the right to the hearing.
“You understand that by waiving your right to a preliminary hearing your case goes straight to Circuit Court,” Van De Car asked Kahele.
The teen said he understood.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kauanoe Jackson said an agreement with the defense has been discussed to charge Kahele with Class C felonies for all felony crimes he’s facing.
Charges are third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, first-degree burglary, three counts of second-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree theft.
“We’ll argue for prison, they’ll argue for Drug Court,” Jackson said of the defense.
Kahele will appear in Circuit Court on May 1 for his arraignment and plea. Bail was maintained at $92,000.
Kahele was taken into custody on Wednesday after he allegedly attempted to acquire the contents of a cash vault at a business on Olowalu Street in the Kaloko Light Industrial Park, according to a Hawaii Police Department press release.
Officials say the suspect, later identified as Kahele, had gained access to a secure area of the business that contained the vault. However, he was unable to remove any cash from within after being confronted by an employee. At that point, police say, Kahele fled the area on foot.
That same day, Kahele was taken into custody at a nearby business while detectives from the department’s Area II Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation, the release states.
During the course of their investigation, detectives concluded Kahele was also responsible for break-ins at four area businesses and a residence on Kaiminani Drive.
The first reported break-in occurred on April 11 on Kahakai Road. According to the release, a safe containing cash and a cash register drawer were removed — neither of which have been recovered.
The release states officers responded on April 12 to a gas station on Luhia Street and determined a cashier’s room had been entered and a locked cash box was taken. Investigations revealed Kahele and another male were responsible for the break-in. The cash box has been recovered by police.
On April 16, officers responded to a Henry Street business after a man was observed removing a cash register containing cash from the business. Investigations determined Kahele was responsible for this theft as well. The cash register has not yet been recovered, the release states.
On April 17, officers spotted Kahele in the parking lot of a business located on Mamalahoa Highway. When they attempted to contact him, he fled the area on foot. Shortly after Kahele fled, a resident who lives nearby on Kaiminani Drive reported a man had removed a bicycle from their residence. Investigations revealed Kahele was responsible for this theft. The bicycle was recovered by detectives on Holoholo Street on Thursday.
Later on April 17, a business located on Olowalu Street was entered into, and two cash drawers containing coins were removed from within, the release states. Investigations revealed Kahele was also responsible for this theft. The cash drawers and coins were recovered by police.