Police are charging a father and son for the robbery of a hitchhiker last week in Kona.
Police are charging a father and son for the robbery of a hitchhiker last week in Kona.
In response to an 8:32 p.m. call Oct. 28, officers met with a 23-year-old Kailua-Kona man who reported he caught a ride in a white SUV while hitchhiking on Alii Drive. A male passenger reportedly threatened to stab him in the neck unless he handed over the contents of his pockets.
After the victim gave the suspect a cellphone, cigarettes, a lighter and cash, the occupants of the SUV ordered him to get out. The victim was able to provide the license plate number and a description of the vehicle.
On Thursday, officers stopped the SUV on Kuakini Highway and the driver, 43-year-old Robert Deleon of Kailua-Kona, on unrelated offenses for a domestic incident July 18. He was charged with assault, harassment, interfering with a report of an emergency and four counts of violating court orders. His bail for those offenses was set at $32,000.
Later Thursday, police found Deleon’s son, 22-year-old Sloan Deleon of Kailua-Kona, along with 27-year-old Leilani Parent of Kailua-Kona, at a home in Keauhou Mauka. Sloan Deleon initially was arrested and charged with two counts of contempt of court and two counts of violating probation with bail set at $200,000.
Parent was arrested and charged with contempt of court and violating terms of probation. Her bail was set at $100,000.
Both Deleons also were arrested Thursday on suspicion of robbery for the incident with the hitchhiker.
On Friday, all three suspects appeared in court for the charges unrelated to the robbery. The Deleons were returned to the police cellblock while detectives continued their robbery investigation.
On Friday, detectives executed a search warrant on Robert Deleon’s SUV and recovered a crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine, a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana, plus drug paraphernalia. Robert Deleon then was arrested on suspicion of meth trafficking, promoting a detrimental drug and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Later Friday, Robert and Sloan Deleon each were charged with first-degree robbery with bail on those offenses set at $50,000 each.
Both Deleons made their initial court appearances on the robbery charges Monday and were scheduled for preliminary hearings today.
Detectives continue to investigate the drug offenses.