A 32-year-old Volcano man accused of entering a neighbor’s property on April 26 and shooting the man to death pleaded not guilty to all charges Wednesday in Hilo Circuit Court.
Daris Pacheco is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree terroristic threatening, carrying a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, five counts of prohibited possession of a firearm or ammunition, illegally carrying a firearm, methamphetamine and marijuana possession, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
No trial was set as Pacheco’s attorney, Stanton Oshiro, requested and received a court-ordered mental examination for his client, who appeared via Zoom from Hawaii Community Correctional Center. Judge Peter Kubota set Pacheco’s next court appearance for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 17 before Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto.
Pacheco is accused of fatally shooting 59-year-old Jay Allen Freeman, a neighbor on Nau Nani Road in Aloha Estates subdivision, on April 26.
The midday shooting, on Freeman’s driveway, was described by Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Son as “an execution in daytime” during a previous hearing in Hilo District Court.
Neighbors who witnessed the shooting said Pacheco shot Freeman once in the chest from about 5 feet away with a silver handgun, according to court documents filed by police.
According to documents, Freeman called police prior to being shot, saying he saw Pacheco standing in front of his home and appeared to be carrying a rifle.
Documents state Pacheco is legally prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition according to the terms of a deferred acceptance of a no contest plea in a family court case.
He also was ordered to surrender any firearms and ammunition in his possession to police.
Kubota maintained Pacheco’s bail at $1,520,500. Pacheco remains in custody at HCCC.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaii tribune-herald.com.
