KEALAKEKUA — A Kailua-Kona man accused of assaulting and robbing a Buddhist minister pleaded not guilty.
KEALAKEKUA — A Kailua-Kona man accused of assaulting and robbing a Buddhist minister pleaded not guilty.
Kyle Arellano, 22, was in custody when he appeared Friday morning before Kona Circuit Judge Robert D.S. Kim. Kim maintained bail at $49,800 and ordered an updated bail study.
A jury trial is scheduled for May 28.
Arellano is charged with second-degree robbery of a vehicle, two counts of second-degree theft, fourth-degree theft, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree unauthorized entry into a vehicle, criminal property damage, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and drug paraphernalia in connection with the alleged incident.
The charges stem from an incident Dec. 26 when Arellano allegedly assaulted and robbed the Rev. Massaki Miyazaki at the Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission in Holualoa. Arellano is accused of striking and taking a bag from the 71-year-old minister.
On Dec. 27, Arellano was reportedly found in a stolen 2007 Honda Accord that was reported taken from Honokohau Harbor. On that same day, police also connected a car break-in at the VA Kona Community Based Outpatient Clinic on Hualalai Road to Arellano.
He was eventually taken into custody without incident Dec. 28.
Email Tiffany DeMasters at tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com.
