Two charged in weekend robbery

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Police have charged two men with robbery and other offenses for an alleged attack on another man and the theft of his iPhone early Saturday morning in Hilo.

Police have charged two men with robbery and other offenses for an alleged attack on another man and the theft of his iPhone early Saturday morning in Hilo.

At 3:27 a.m. Saturday, police responded to a report of a 19-year-old Hilo man who had allegedly been assaulted in the parking lot of Verna’s III Drive-In at the corner of Kamehameha Avenue and Banyan Drive.

According to court documents, the victim, a 19-year-old Hilo man, told police that he was involved in a physical altercation with an acquaintance, 22-year-old Dustin C.M. Snedeker-Abadilla of Pahoa, and that he was knocked unconscious.

A witness told police that while the victim was lying on the ground unconscious, 19-year-old Jacob Anthony Blanco of Hilo reached into the victim’s pants pocket and stole the victim’s black iPhone 5.

The victim told police that he was able to track his cell phone to a Kekuanaoa Street home. While there, Snedeker-Abadilla allegedly punched the victim through the driver’s side window of his vehicle, and then punched a dent in the left rear door of the car, documents state.

After the reported theft, police say they tracked the phone to a location off Kalanianaole Avenue, where they recovered the iPhone and arrested both suspects at 4 p.m.

The victim, who sustained minor injuries, declined treatment.

Snedeker-Abadilla was charged with second-degree robbery, first-degree unauthorized entry to a motor vehicle, fourth-degree criminal property damage and third-degree assault. His bail was set at $4,750.

Blanco was charged with second-degree robbery and third-degree theft. His bail was set at $11,000.

Both men made their initial court appearances Monday afternoon. Hilo District Judge Barbara Takase maintained bail for both men and set a preliminary hearing for this afternoon.