A judge Monday denied a defense request to free a 61-year-old Mountain View man accused of 22 drug and firearms offenses on court-supervised release without cash bail.
Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk maintained bail for Loran Jeffrey Gross at $660,000 and ordered Gross to return Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
Gross is charged with four counts of first-degree possession of marijuana, plus attempted first-degree promotion of marijuana, methamphetamine possession, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony drug offense, 12 counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
An early morning raid Friday on Gross’ Fern Acres subdivision home netted 27.2 pounds of marijuana, 222 marijuana plants between 5 feet and 6 feet in height, 14 firearms and more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition, according to court documents filed by police. Eleven of the firearms, according to documents, were rifles of various calibers, plus two shotguns and a Sig Sauer P250 semi-automatic pistol.
Also found was a cylindrical glass smoking pipe with a bulbous end containing residue that tested positive for methamphetamine, according to documents.
Gross was born in Santa Monica, Calif., and had a canceled Alaska driver’s license, documents state.
The complaint states he has 10 prior felony convictions dating back to 1981 for first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, escape and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Gross is described as a persistent and multiple offender, according to the complaint, which states extended terms of imprisonment might be sought by prosecutors “for the protection of the public.”
The marijuana offenses and possession of a firearm in the commission of a drug felony are all Class A felonies that carry a possible 20-year prison term upon conviction. Being a felon in possession of a firearm is a Class B felony with a maximum 10-year prison sentence upon conviction. And the methamphetamine possession charge is a Class C felony that carries a maximum five-year prison term upon conviction.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
