A Hilo grand jury has indicted a 35-year-old Hilo man accused of stealing a deputy prosecutor’s pickup truck late last year.
The 11-count indictment dated Feb. 5 charges Eduardo Eddie Lopez with unauthorized control of a stolen vehicle, second-degree theft, defacing serial numbers of a motor vehicle, being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition, first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, three-counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving without a license.
The most serious offenses, first-degree promotion and attempted-first degree promotion of a dangerous drug, are Class A felonies punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment upon conviction.
A bench warrant issued with the indictment sets Lopez’s bail at $136,000.
The charging document identifies the owners of the Toyota Tacoma pickup truck as Kevin Hashizaki and/or State Farm, an insurance company that also provides auto loans.
Hashizaki is a deputy prosecutor in Hilo.
According to police, the truck was reported stolen from the parking lot at Nani Mau Gardens in Hilo on Nov. 10, 2019. It was recovered, and Lopez was arrested at about 2 p.m. on Jan. 11 in the parking lot of the KTA Super Stores’ Puainako store in Hilo.
The vehicle, according to police, was undamaged when recovered, other than the defaced serial number.
Lopez, when apprehended, allegedly had unspecified quantities of methamphetamine and heroin, but a total amount of more than 1/8 ounce, known as an “eight ball” in street parlance.
Lopez’s case was originally filed in Hilo District Court, but the indictment moves it to Hilo Circuit Court.
Lopez remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center, where he will be re-arrested on the bench warrant prior to an as yet unscheduled arraignment before Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto.
The Hawaii County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has recused itself from Hashizaki’s case, since it is his employer.
Kauai County Prosecutor Justin Kollar and David Charles Loos, one of Kollar’s deputies, are the attorneys of record for the state.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaii tribune-herald.com.
