Not guilty pleas to firearms, theft charges

Preliminary hearings are scheduled for 2 p.m. this afternoon for a man and woman arrested Friday after police executed a search warrant on a Fern Forest subdivision residence.

Jardin Tavares, 31, of Mountain View pleaded not guilty Monday to 12 counts of felon in possession of a firearm, two counts each of first- and second-degree theft, plus third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.

Crystal Olivar, 27, of Mountain View pleaded not guilty to two counts of felon in possession of a firearm.

Felon in possession of a firearm and first-degree theft are Class B felonies that carry a potential 10-year prison term upon conviction, while second-degree theft and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug are Class C felony charges that carry possible five-year prison terms.

Belinda Castillo-Hall, Tavares’ court-appointed attorney, argued for reduction of her client’s bail, saying Tavares’ bail is “extremely high, even given Mr. Tavares’ history.”

Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Schlueter told Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk that Tavares “was in possession of motor vehicles and an arsenal of firearms, including ammunition,” and requested Tavares’ bail be maintained at $460,000.

After asking Tavares a series of financial questions, such as if he had a job, a bank account, a car, cash, stocks or bonds, or if he owns his own house and receiving negative replies to all queries, Hawk reduced Tavares’ bail to $92,000.

“In light of the fact that you do not have any assets, I am required by law to reduce bail in this matter,” Hawk said.

Olivar’s court-appointed attorney, Donald Wilkerson, asked Hawk to grant his client supervised release or to reduce her bail to no more than $5,000, while Schlueter requested Olivar’s bail be maintained at $10,000.

“The defendant is currently on felony probation for promotion of a dangerous drug,” Schlueter told the court. “… The state’s alleging that the defendant’s purse and identification were found in close proximity in a vehicle with firearms ….”

Hawk told Olivar he wasn’t going to grant her supervised release without bail because of her felony probation status but reduced her bail to $3,000.

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