A couple charged with multiple warrants, traffic offenses and property crimes are slated to enter pleas April 24 in Kona Circuit Court.
Jake Branch and Alexandra Barnes-Carrick are each slated to appear April 24 before Kona Circuit Court Judge Melvin H. Fujino and Robert D.S. Kim, respectively, where they will enter pleas to a host of charges. Both remain in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail each following a preliminary hearing held Friday in which probable cause was found to support charges filed against Branch and Barnes-Carrick.
The Hawaii Police Department announced Thursday that Branch and Barnes-Carrick had been arrested on Wednesday on outstanding warrants.
Detectives continuing the investigation identified Branch as being responsible for a resist order to stop and related offenses which occurred on March 2 and March 6 in Kona; an unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and theft on April 1 in Puna; a burglary of a dwelling during an emergency period and related prohibited acts during an emergency period on April 11 in North Kohala; a two separate burglaries of a dwelling during an emergency period and related prohibited acts during an emergency period on Tuesday in South Kohala.
Detectives said they were also able to identify Barnes-Carrick as being responsible for a burglary of a dwelling during an emergency period and related prohibited acts during an emergency period on April 11 in North Kohala and a burglary of a dwelling during an emergency period, criminal tampering and related prohibited acts during an emergency period on Tuesday in South Kohala.
Upon conferring with prosecutors, Branch was charged with four counts of criminal contempt, three counts of burglary of a dwelling during an emergency period, three counts of prohibited acts during an emergency period, two counts of bail jumping, two counts of resist order to stop motor vehicle, two counts of accidents involving vehicle/property damage, two counts of discharge of sureties, and one count each of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, criminal property damage, theft, and criminal tampering. His bail was set at $339,800.
Barnes-Carrick was charged with two counts of criminal contempt, two counts of burglary of a dwelling during an emergency period, two counts of prohibited acts during an emergency period and one count of criminal tampering. Her bail was set at $31,250.
Branch made his initial court appearance on Thursday where District Court Judge Margaret Masunaga reduced bail to $100,000. The case was committed to Circuit Court following a preliminary hearing held Friday.
Masunaga reduced bail for Barnes-Carrick at an initial court appearance Thursday to $5,000. At a preliminary hearing Friday, bail was maintained and the case was also committed to Circuit Court.
Both Branch and Barnes-Carrick remain in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Police want to remind the public that in light of the current COVID-19 emergency proclamation, which was declared by Gov. David Ige, that there are enhanced penalties for certain offenses. These offenses include, but not limited to, burglary, theft, criminal property damage, and robbery.