Prosecutor: Traffic stop resulted in arrest for drugs, DUI

A 36-year-old Hilo man police say had more than a half-pound of methamphetamine in his car remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $113,000 bail.

Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk on Wednesday denied a motion by the court-appointed attorney of Aysa Kalei Delos Santos to free Delos Santos on supervised release, a form of cashless bail, or to reduce Delos Santos’ bail.

According to county Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen, Delos Santos was pulled over in a routine traffic stop Monday on Kamehameha Avenue in Hilo. Vice officers executed a narcotics search warrant on Delos Santos’ vehicle and reportedly recovered almost 266 grams of methamphetamine, broken down into nine separate packets, each containing about an ounce of the drug.

Also allegedly recovered were hydrocodone pills, a semi-synthetic opioid painkiller marketed as Vicodin; four vials of what Waltjen said “are presumed to be anabolic steroids”; and more than $4,400 in cash.

Delos Santos was charged with six offenses, including: attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, for allegedly attempting to distribute one-eighth ounce or more of methamphetamine; first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, for allegedly possessing more an an ounce or more of methamphetamine; third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, for allegedly possessing any quantity of hydrocodone; fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug, for allegedly possessing testosterone and/or trenbolone; and DUI.

The most serious charges, attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug are both Class A felony offenses punishable by up to 20-years imprisonment, upon conviction.

Hawk ordered Delos Santos to return to court Friday for a preliminary hearing.

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