By JOHN BURNETT
By JOHN BURNETT
Tribune-Herald staff writer
A 25-year-old Kailua-Kona man has pleaded not guilty to numerous charges stemming from a February robbery.
On Wednesday, Kona Circuit Judge Elizabeth Strance ordered Alihilani Joshua Stringert to appear for trial July 9 at 8 a.m. Stringert is charged with two counts each of first-degree robbery and kidnapping, plus burglary, second-degree theft, second- and third-degree assault, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. A bench warrant set Stringert’s bail at $297,000, and Strance maintained it at that amount, according to court records.
Stringert was indicted March 12, according to court records, and a police log states that he was arrested at 6 a.m. Tuesday at the Kealakekua Tesoro gas station.
Police say that Stringert and a male accomplice robbed a 37-year-old man and his 36-year-old male friend at an apartment on the 75-5000 block of Kailua-Kona on Feb. 17. Police indicated that the apartment’s resident — identified in court records as Dane Silver Jacobsen — is acquainted with Stringert. Stringert and the other man allegedly showed up uninvited, brandishing a handgun and a machete. The intruders allegedly held down the victims, assaulted them, demanded money and marijuana and then fled on foot after taking the Jacobsen’s wallet and 10 grams of marijuana.
The other victim was identified in court records as Santiago Miguel Rodriguez.
Jacobsen sustained minor cuts and scrapes to his hand and forehead while Rodriguez sustained redness and pain to around his left eye. Both men declined medical treatment.
Strance ordered Stringert to not contact, threaten or harm Jacobsen and Rodriguez, and to not own, use or possess firearms as part of his conditions for release on bail.
Lt. Gerald Wike said Tuesday that the second suspect has not been identifed or arrested by police, and that police “are continuing to follow up on possible leads and are looking for a possible ‘person of interest’ in the case.”
Wike said that the wallet had cash, but declined to say how much, citing the ongoing investigation into the second suspect. The second-degree theft charge indicates that over $300 worth of property was taken.
The three most serious offenses, first-degree robbery, kidnapping and use of a firearm in a felony, are all Class A felonies punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.
Anyone who knows the second suspect’s identity or may have additional information about this case is asked to call the police non-emergency line at 935-3311 or to contact Detective Jason Berryhill at 326-4646, ext. 275, or jberryhill@co.hawaii.hi.us. Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.