A 55-year-old Pahoa man is facing numerous drug and firearms charges.
A Hilo grand jury indicted Jack Marshall Brenha on March 7 for first-, second- and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree marijuana possession, two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia, four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and a single count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
According to court documents, officers executed a search warrant Feb. 2 at Brenha’s Kupono Street home in Leilani Estates. Police say the search netted more than a half-pound of crystal methamphetamine, or “ice,” 9.2 grams of heroin, 2 ounces of marijuana, paraphernalia, a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, a 5.56-caliber semi-automatic rifle, a .30-caliber carbine rifle, a .223-caliber rifle and numerous live rounds of ammunition.
The most serious charge, first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and the firearms offenses are all Class B felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison each.
According to the indictment, however, prosecutors are alleging Brenha is a persistent and multiple offender, and “an extended term of imprisonment is necessary for the protection of the public.”
That means a sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole could be imposed if Brenha is convicted on the first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug charge.
Brenha was convicted July 21, 2011, of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
On Tuesday, Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto granted Brenha a continuance of his arraignment until 8 a.m. March 27.
Brenha is free on $81,000 bail.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
