A Hilo man has been charged with four offenses after being found in a stolen car in Puna.
A Hilo man has been charged with four offenses after being found in a stolen car in Puna.
On Monday, officers responded to a report of a sedan parked in the roadway on Road C in the Hawaiian Acres subdivision in Puna. When they arrived, the car’s engine was running and its occupant was passed out with drug paraphernalia on the seat next to him.
Officers determined that the car had been stolen from Hilo on Saturday.
The occupant, 30-year-old Jantzen-James Mata, was arrested and taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives investigated. The investigation revealed that Mata was also a possible suspect in another auto theft. In that case, a sport-utility vehicle was stolen from Kurtistown on June 28.
At 6:13 p.m. Tuesday, Mata was charged with second-degree theft, driving a stolen vehicle, promoting a dangerous drug and drug paraphernalia. His bail was set at $40,000.
His his initial court appearance is scheduled for today.