Alleged Ka‘u pot grower makes initial court appearance

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

A 26-year-old Naalehu man arrested Tuesday for allegedly growing marijuana with intent to distribute made his initial court appearance Wednesday.

A 26-year-old Naalehu man arrested Tuesday for allegedly growing marijuana with intent to distribute made his initial court appearance Wednesday.

Hilo District Judge Harry Freitas scheduled a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. today for David Alexander McFadden in Kona District Court.

According to court documents filed by police, officers executed a search warrant on McFadden’s Palaoa Road home and found 85 marijuana plants between 2-7 feet in height, 52.66 pounds of marijuana and various items of drug paraphernalia.

Documents indicate McFadden was originally charged with first-degree commercial promotion of marijuana, two counts of second-degree commercial promotion of marijuana and three counts of drug paraphernalia, but online court minutes indicate that McFadden appeared in court only on the two second-degree promotion charges and two paraphernalia charges.

Freitas maintained McFadden’s bail at $19,000, and he remained in custody Wednesday evening at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.