KEALAKEKUA — The last of the known associates of accused cop killer Justin Waiki appeared in 3rd Circuit Court for his arraignment and plea Tuesday morning.
Kiel Brende was one of seven people indicted by the prosecutor’s office last month on charges of first-degree hindering prosecution and first-degree conspiracy to commit hindering prosecution. On Tuesday morning, the 33-year-old entered a not guilty plea.
Charges stem from the fatal shooting of Officer Bronson Kaliloa on July 17 in Mountain View. Waiki reportedly shot and killed the officer. Brende, along with several others, are accused of assisting the 33-year-old evade capture for days after the incident.
According to Hawaii Police, Brende fled to Washington state several weeks ago. However, he was arrested with the assistance of U.S. Marshals, the FBI and local law enforcement officers. Brende was then extradited back to the Big Island to face charges. Bail has been set at $500,000.
During the hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Kauanoe Jackson asked Judge Robert D.S. Kim that bail be maintained, claiming him to be a flight risk.
Public Defender Wendy DeWeese asked for supervised release or a reduction in bail.
“There’s no information that just because he moved from the state means he tried to avoid prosecution,” she said.
DeWeese also requested that bail for each charge be reduced to $1,500.
Kim maintained bail with attached conditions that there be an updated bail study.
Brende’s co-defendants have also entered not guilty pleas.
Others listed on the indictment were Jamie Jason, Mokihana Veincent, Taumi Carr, Krystle Ferreira, Malia Lajala and Jorge A. Pagan-Torres.
The search for Waiki ended a few days after Kaliloa’s death when police got into a shootout with Waiki, who was found concealed in the back of a vehicle on South Point Road on July 20. At that time, Ferreira, Lajala and Pagan-Torres were taken into custody.
Ferreira, Pagan-Torres and Lajala were each charged with being accomplices to attempted first-degree murder and place to keep (a firearm), conspiracy to commit first-degree hindering prosecution and first-degree hindering prosecution. Lajala was also charged with third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug. Bail for Lajala and Pagan-Torres was maintained at $1 million.
Ferreira’s bail was reduced from $1 million to $500,000.
Jason was also in the vehicle when Waiki was shot and killed by police. She suffered gunshot injuries at the time of the incident and has been receiving medical treatment. She appeared in a Hilo courtroom last week and pleaded not guilty to accomplice to ownership or possession prohibited, first-degree attempted murder, accomplice to not having a case or place to keep a revolver and conspiracy to commit ownership or possession prohibited. Her bail is set at $1 million.
Taumi Carr and Mokihana Veincent were also listed in the indictment and taken into custody by authorities.
Carr entered a not guilty plea in court on Aug. 21 on charges of first-degree hindering prosecution and first-degree conspiracy to commit hindering prosecution. Bail was set at $500,000.
Veincent appeared in court on Aug. 27 and entered a not guilty plea on charges of first-degree hindering prosecution, conspiracy and two counts of accomplice to ownership/possession, (of a firearm), prohibited. Bail was set at $500,000.
A jury trial for all seven defendants has been scheduled for Jan. 15, 2019.
