A judge on Friday increased bail on a 34-year-old Pahoa man described by county Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen as a “repeat offender with six prior felony convictions.”
Hilo District Judge Kanani Laubach, on the request of prosecutors, raised the bail for Jordan Makaala Valente Kaneshiro from $505,000 to $560,000. Kaneshiro’s public defender had requested the judge either free Kaneshiro on court-supervised release without monetary bail or reduce Kaneshiro’s bail.
Kaneshiro is charged with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, three counts of attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, two counts of second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, three counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with intent to commit a felony drug offense.
Laubach ordered Kaneshiro to return to court Monday for a preliminary hearing.
According to court documents filed by police, officers on Wednesday executed a search warrant on a Kuleana Street home in Ainaloa Estates subdivision.
The search yielded 1.82 ounces of methamphetamine, more than a half-ounce of cocaine, eight grams of heroin and 2.3 grams of fentanyl.
Police also found a Remington 12-gauge shotgun, documents state.
As a convicted felon, Kaneshiro is not legally allowed to possess firearms or ammunition.
According to documents, police contacted the registered owner of the firearm, who told them the shotgun had been stolen but she didn’t report it as stolen to police.
The most serious offenses, first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possession of a firearm with intent to commit a felony drug offense are all Class A felonies that carry a potential 20-year prison term upon conviction. Second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and being a felon in possession of a firearm are Class B felonies and convictions carry a possible 10-year prison sentence.
Kaneshiro was free on bail in a separate active felony drug case when the arrest occurred, court records indicate.
According to Waltjen, if Kaneshiro is convicted of any of the Class A or B felony offenses, he faces a mandatory prison term.
As of Saturday morning, Kaneshiro remained in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
