Three indicted in drug cases

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By JOHN BURNETT

By JOHN BURNETT

Tribune-Herald staff writer

A Hilo grand jury has indicted three individuals in separate drug cases.

A six-count indictment filed Aug. 29 charges 40-year-old Lia Kali Boe of Keaau with two counts of first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, a single count of second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and three counts of possessing drug paraphernalia.

The document alleges that Boe “knowingly distributed” heroin on three occasions — on Aug. 23, 2012, and on March 5 and March 12. According to a police spokeswoman, the amounts of the drug seized by police were 3.8 grams, 5.3 grams and 3.2 grams, respectively.

A bench warrant set Boe’s bail at $31,000 and ordered her to have no contact with a witness in the case, to not possess firearms, drugs or alcohol and to submit to random drug and alcohol testing.

First-degree promotion of a dangerous drug is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years incarceration. Possessing drug paraphernalia is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment.

A three-count indictment charges 27-year-old Shela Santana of Keaau with first-degree methamphetamine trafficking, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A police spokeswoman said a search warrant was served on Aug. 18, 2012, and officers seized 8.5 grams of meth and plastic bags.

A bench warrant set Santana’s bail at $57,000 and ordered her to have no contact with a witness in the case, to not possess firearms, drugs or alcohol and to submit to random drug and alcohol testing.

And a three-count indictment charges 43-year-old Gilbert Bartolome of Pahoa with first-degree methamphetmine trafficking, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A police spokeswoman said a search warrant was served in Ainaloa subdivision on Sept. 6, 2012, and officers seized 5.6 grams of methamphetamine, plus digital scales and a metal container.

A bench warrant set Bartolome’s bail at $100,000 and ordered him to have no contact with a witness in the case, to not possess firearms, drugs or alcohol and to submit to random drug and alcohol testing.

Bartolome was sentenced in 2007 to a year in jail with six months suspended plus five years probation for third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, possessing drug paraphernalia, second-degree forgery and third-degree theft.

First-degree methamphetamine trafficking is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.

Email John Burnett at
jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.