An 18-year-old Keaau man is accused of forcibly stealing a 62-year-old Hilo man’s wallet and using his credit card for several purchases that same day.
Kaiea Fleming-White is charged with second-degree robbery, second-degree methamphetamine possession, several counts of theft, identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, theft of a credit card, and unauthorized possession of confidential personal information.
According to court documents filed by police, shortly after 7 a.m. Friday, the victim was receiving his change for a breakfast purchase at the McDonald’s inside Hilo Walmart.
Fleming-White, who reportedly was waiting for his food, allegedly accused the victim of taking Fleming-White’s change.
After the victim put his wallet, including the change, into his right cargo shorts pocket, Fleming-White allegedly reached into the man’s pocket and took the wallet — despite resistance from the victim — and fled on foot through the Walmart parking lot across Kanoelehua Avenue.
The wallet reportedly contained the victim’s driver’s license, veteran’s ID, a debit card, two credit cards, medical insurance card and $108 in cash.
Fleming-White, who was wanted on an unrelated warrant, was arrested later in the day during a traffic stop at Highway 11 and East Kawailani Street involving a car in which he was a passenger.
Fleming-White allegedly was in possession of the victim’s wallet, which contained a Visa card used to buy food at the Puainako Town Center McDonald’s and numerous items of clothing at the Hilo Target store.
Also in Fleming-White’s possession were 9.1 grams of methamphetamine, a smoking pipe and $218 in cash, according to the documents.
The most serious charges, strong-arm robbery and possession of more than one-eighth ounce of meth, are Class B felonies punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.
Fleming-White has no prior adult criminal convictions, but has three additional active court cases, including one in which he’s charged with first-degree terroristic threatening, a Class C felony.
At Fleming-White’s initial court appearance Monday, his court-appointed attorney, Francis Alcain, requested a reduction in bail from $129,000 to $50,000, which drew an objection by Deputy Prosecutor Georgia Berrenberg.
Judge Jeffrey Hawk maintained Fleming-White’s bail and ordered him to return today for a preliminary hearing.
Fleming-White remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
