A 28-year-old man pleaded not guilty on Thursday to meth trafficking charges filed after he and a Kona woman were arrested for allegedly possessing more than a pound of illegal narcotics Dec. 10 at a Big Island airport.
A 28-year-old man pleaded not guilty on Thursday to meth trafficking charges filed after he and a Kona woman were arrested for allegedly possessing more than a pound of illegal narcotics Dec. 10 at a Big Island airport.
Jacob D. Stone pleaded not guilty to first-degree methamphetamine trafficking and possessing drug paraphernalia before 3rd Circuit Court Chief Judge Ronald Ibarra in Kona. A May 26 jury trial date has been set.
Ibarra maintained bail for the Waimea resident at $150,000. Stone remains incarcerated at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Rebecca O’Brien, the Kailua-Kona woman arrested with Stone at Kona International Airport, is slated to enter pleas to charges of first-degree methamphetamine trafficking, two counts of first-degree promoting a dangerous drug, one count of second-degree promoting a dangerous drug, and four counts of possessing drug paraphernalia on Dec. 24 before 3rd Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Strance in Kona. O’Brien remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Shortly after 10 p.m. Dec. 10, Hawaii Police Department Area II Vice section officers served search warrants on two passengers arriving on a flight from San Francisco, according to police. The passengers, O’Brien and Stone, had been under investigation prior to the search warrant being issued at Kona International Airport.
O’Brien allegedly had on her possession six individual bundles of narcotics that police said were consistent with the importation of narcotics. The bundles contained 127.4 grams — 4.55 ounces — of a crystalline substance, 114.5 grams — 4.08 ounces — of a white powdery substance, 178.7 grams — 6.38 ounces — of a black tar-like substance and 15 grams — just over a half-ounce — of a crystalline substance.
Stone allegedly had on his possession three individual bundles of narcotics also packaged in a manner consistent with the importation of illegal drugs, according to police. The three bundles reportedly contained 91.3 grams — 3.26 ounces — of a crystalline substance.
The bundles of narcotics — totaling nearly 19 ounces in all — tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine and heroin, according to Vice Lt. Sherry Bird. The drugs have a combined street value of more than $70,000.
O’Brien and Stone were charged on Dec. 11.
First-degree methamphetamine trafficking is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison with a mandatory minimum term of two years, according to Hawaii Revised Statutes. The felony carries a maximum fine of up to $20,000.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.