Puna man accused of stealing trailer from school

A 28-year-old Puna man who appeared in Hilo District Court for allegedly stealing a trailer owned by a Pahoa public charter school was served a warrant moving his case upstairs to Hilo Circuit Court.

According to court records, Haaheo K. Chan was served a felony information warrant Thursday afternoon. The warrant charges Chan with second-degree theft, second- and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, plus prohibited possession of a firearm and ammunition, and authorizes his re-arrest on those charges.

According to county Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen, police recovered the trailer, which was reported stolen on Oct. 2 from the Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences campus, after executing a search warrant on Oct. 30 at a Sandalwood Drive residence in the Ainaloa Estates subdivision.

Police also reportedly searched a bedroom at that residence believed to be Chan’s and recovered a .22 caliber Jennings pistol — commonly referred to as a “Saturday night special” — as well as .22 caliber ammunition, 10-plus grams of methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe.

At Chan’s initial court appearance on Monday, Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk maintained Chan’s bail at $130,000 and ordered him to appear in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

Hawk also approved a motion by the public defender to withdraw from Chan’s case due to a conflict of interest and appointed private attorney Stanton Oshiro to defend Chan.

The felony information warrant lowers Chan’s bail to $114,000, but he remained in custody as of late Thursday afternoon at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.

Second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug is a Class B felony carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence, upon conviction, as are prohibited possession of a firearm and ammunition. Second-degree theft and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug are Class C felonies carrying a maximum five-year prison term.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.