A 40-year-old Kona man was sentenced Monday in Kona Circuit Court to a 10-year prison term for robbing a Kailua-Kona vape shop in May.
Third Circuit Chief Judge Wendy DeWeese also ordered Austin Aini to pay $260 in restitution for the May 18 robbery of the Black Lava Vape Shop in Kona.
In a deal with prosecutors, Aini on Oct. 4 entered a no-contest plea to second-degree robbery, a Class B felony offense. In return for his plea, charges of use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, first- and second-degree terroristic threatening, being a felon in possession of a firearm, illegally carrying a firearm and third-degree theft.
The second-degree robbery charge was a reduction from the original charge of first-degree robbery, a Class A felony that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, as did the dropped charge of use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony.
According to police, a 32-year-old woman employee of the vape shop told officers an unfamiliar man came into the store, pointed a black handgun at her head 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.
Aini took $260 in cash from the register, as well as an unknown amount from a clear tote labeled “Maui Donations” located atop the register.
Police later learned Aini also pointed the same BB pistol at 25-year-old Rodney Kahele, who was driving the purple Mazda 6 4-door-sedan Aini was in, with Aini instructing Kahele to “check out” the store prior to the robbery.
Kahele was booked on suspicion of robbery in May but wasn’t charged.
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 had remained in custody in lieu of $323,000 bail since being arrested the day of the robbery. He will receive credit for the time he served behind bars prior to sentencing.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
