A judge on Monday maintained bail for a 39-year-old Kailua-Kona man accused of holding up a Kona vape shop at gunpoint Saturday.
Kona District Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya maintained bail at $323,000 for Auston Aini and ordered him to return Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
Aini is charged with first-degree robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, first- and second-degree terroristic threatening, prohibited possession of a firearm, illegally carrying a firearm and third-degree theft.
The two most serious offenses, first-degree robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, are Class A felonies that carry a potential 20-year prison term, upon conviction.
According to police, the victim, a 32-year-old woman employee of the Black Lava Vape Shop on Hanama Place in Kailua-Kona, reported being robbed at gunpoint at about 1:21 p.m. Saturday.
The woman reportedly told the police that an unfamiliar man came into the store, pointed a black handgun at her and demanded she give him the money in the cash register. The man allegedly continued pointing the firearm at her as she opened the register.
The man reportedly left the store with between $400 and $600.
Police say that Kona patrol officers learned through investigation that the suspect was Aini and he was being driven by Rodney Kahele Jr., a 25-year-old Kailua-Kona man, in a dark purple Mazda 6 4-door sedan.
According to police, Kahele entered the store first, looked around and left without buying anything. When he returned to the car, Aini then entered the store and committed the robbery, police said.
Aini and Kahele were arrested separately a short time later. Aini was charged with the robbery and Kahele was booked on suspicion of robbery and released without being charged, pending further investigation.
Officers obtained search warrants on Aini’s and Kahele’s apartments, as well as the Mazda.
Several clothing items matching the description of what the suspect was wearing during the robbery were recovered from within Aini’s apartment. No firearm was recovered.
