Judge reduces probationer’s drug charge

A Hilo District Court judge reduced charges and bail for a probationer police accused of drug distribution.

At the conclusion of a preliminary hearing Thursday, Judge Jeffrey Hawk found no probable cause to try 43-year-old Freddie D. Bacdad of Hilo for second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug. The judge reduced the charge to third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.

Hawk also reduced Bacdad’s bail from $25,000 to $10,000, and ordered him to appear for arraignment and plea before Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 26.

Bacdad also is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Both charges he now faces are Class C felonies punishable by up to five years imprisonment upon conviction. The second-degree promotion charge Bacdad originally faced is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.

According to police, Bacdad was arrested Monday morning after officers executing a narcotics search warrant on a residence off Waianuhea Place in the Panaewa area of Hilo and found 9.6 grams of methamphetamine, about 1/3 ounce, broken down into street-level distribution-size quantities, plus a digital scale and small zip-lock packets.

Bacdad is on four years probation after pleading guilty Aug. 4, 2016, to third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug. He also was sentenced to a year in jail and 100 hours of community service.

Prosecutors filed a motion for revocation of Bacdad’s probation. During a hearing Monday, Nakamoto set Bacdad’s bail on the revocation warrant at $2,000 and ordered him to return to court at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 27.

As of Friday, Bacdad remained in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.

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