KAILUA-KONA — A 48-year-old man initially arrested, but released, during a marijuana bust at a Kona Palisades home last week has since been indicted by a grand jury.
The indictment against Robert Patrick Kirkhill was filed in 3rd Circuit Court on Tuesday. He is facing charges of commercial promotion of marijuana and numerous drug charges. A bench warrant for his arrest was issued Wednesday with bail set at $30,000.
The Kona Vice Section with Hawaii Police discovered 368 marijuana plants during a search warrant on the Palisades home on Aug. 6 where Kirkhill resides.
The search at the residence, on the 73-1000 block of Kaiminani Drive, also yielded 30 pounds of dried marijuana, a digital scale, Ziploc bags with marijuana inside and other items.
According to the indictment, it states Kirkhill possessed one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances of an aggregate weight of one-eighth ounce or more, “containing one or more of the harmful drugs or one or more of the marijuana concentrates.”
The 48-year-old was also found in possession of 25 or more capsules of tablets containing one or more of the harmful drugs or one or more of the marijuana concentrates as well as possession of the drug alazopram.
Police recovered $9,000 in cash at the scene as well as an unregistered firearm.
Kirkhill is facing charges of two counts of first-degree promotion of marijuana, prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia, second-degree promotion of a harmful drug, fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug and third-degree promotion of a harmful drug.
Kirkhill was also found in possession of a Ruger .357 Magnum. The 48-year-old is also facing charges related to the unregistered firearm.