A Kailua-Kona woman faces up to five years behind bars when sentenced this fall after meting a plea deal with prosecutors that dropped attempted murder charges stemming from a June 2020 traffic collision.
Keola A. Kama, 30, pleaded no contest Monday to lesser included offenses of second-degree assault and second-degree criminal property damage in connection with the June 13, 2020, crash on Kuakini Highway that critically injured a man and woman.
In exchange for her no contest pleas to the two Class C felony counts, prosecutors dropped charges of first-degree attempted murder, two counts attempted second-degree murder and one count each first-degree criminal property damage, second-degree. criminal property damage, driving without a license and failure to have no-fault motor vehicle insurance.
Sentencing is set for Sept. 24 before Kona Circuit Court Judge Robert D.S. Kim.
Each count Kama pleaded no contest to on Monday carries up to five years incarceration and/or a fine up to $10,000. Per the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to argue for the five-year sentences to be served concurrently, or at the same time.
She had faced life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if convicted of first-degree attempted murder.
According to police, Kama was driving a sedan on Kuakini Highway when the vehicle rammed a moped carrying a 30-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman.
Kama reportedly exited her vehicle and chased one of the moped’s passenger before fleeing the scene. Officers located Kama a short time later and took her into custody.
The two moped passengers were taken to Kona Community Hospital following the crash and subsequently flown to Oahu for treatment.
Kama remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $100,000 bail.
