Sentencing is set for early June for a woman accused of aiding cop killer Justin Waiki.
Jamie Jason, 37, was one of four people inside a Toyota 4-Runner with Waiki when police stopped the SUV at a checkpoint on South Point Road in Ka‘u on July 20, 2018, three days after Waiki shot and killed Officer Bronson Kaliloa on the side of Highway 11 in Mountain View.
During a police search, Jason was found in the vehicle’s cargo hold with Waiki. The 33-year-old man was killed in an exchange of bullets with officers, during which a Special Response Team officer suffered nonfatal gunshot wounds. Jason also suffered a gunshot wound to her thigh.
Following the incident, Jason was indicted and pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree attempted murder and two counts each first-degree hindering prosecution and ownership or possession of a firearm when prohibited.
On Friday, in a deal with prosecutors, the 37-year-old entered guilty pleas to first-degree hindering prosecution, second-degree assault of a law enforcement officer and accomplice to ownership or possession of firearm when prohibited in connection with the incident.
The second-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, is a lesser-included offense of attempted first-degree murder, which carried life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Jason faces a maximum six years incarceration when sentenced by Kona Circuit Judge Robert D.S. Kim. She will receive credit for time served since her August 2018 indictment, having been unable to post $100,000 bail.
The other people in the SUV at the time of Waiki’s death have been tried, convicted and sentenced. Malia Lajala, Jorge Pagan-Torres and Krystle Ferreira were tried last fall after Kim separated their case from Jason’s because it was tied up on appeal for statements she made while hospitalized. That appeal is now withdrawn.
Each was charged with two counts of first-degree hindering prosecution and first-degree attempted murder for their roles in assisting Waiki.
A jury found Lajala guilty of first-degree hindering prosecution and a lesser offense of second-degree attempted assault of a law enforcement officer. She was sentenced in January to six years incarceration, with credit for time served.
Ferreira and Pagan-Torres were found guilty of the lesser offense of second-degree reckless endangering. Each was sentenced to one year incarceration, with credit for time served.
Three others were also charged in the case. Kiel Brende and Mokihana Veincent pleaded out to first-degree hindering prosecution and were sentenced to five years behind bars. The third, Taumi Carr, awaits trial slated for June. Carr is free on $25,000 bail.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.
