HONOLULU – January 29, 2025 – In a shocking case that highlights serious breaches of safety protocols within correctional facilities, former adult corrections officer Gilchrist Fernandez has entered guilty pleas related to the illegal importation and attempted possession of aerial device fireworks at the Oʻahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC).
Attorney General Anne Lopez announced the guilty pleas today, revealing that Fernandez had orchestrated the mailing of nearly 95 pounds of aerial fireworks directly to the very facility where he was employed to maintain security.
On January 29, 2025, Fernandez pleaded guilty to two class C felony offenses: Importation of Fireworks and Attempted Possession of Fireworks.
Fernandez waived his right to an indictment and accepted a plea agreement reached in November 2024. As part of the agreement, he faces the possibility of a $5,000 fine and up to 90 days in prison, among other penalties.
“While working as an adult corrections officer, Mr. Fernandez had almost 95 pounds of aerial fireworks mailed to OCCC, the very correctional facility that he had a duty to secure,” stated Attorney General Lopez. “We cannot and will not tolerate this type of flagrant criminal conduct.”
She added that the investigation involved comprehensive financial tracing that linked the illegal purchase to a fireworks vendor in Nevada. The United States Postal Service echoed Lopez’s sentiments, emphasizing the serious risks associated with mailing hazardous items.
“The Postal Service reminds customers that illegal, hazardous, and dangerous items are always prohibited in the mail stream,” a representative stated. “This includes explosive devices, such as fireworks, that pose a threat to both employees and customers.”
Honolulu Police Chief Joe Logan condemned Fernandez’s actions, noting the potential danger posed to anyone who might have come into contact with the flammable parcels. “More important than risking his career, this individual risked the safety of everyone who unknowingly came into contact with the highly flammable parcels. HPD will continue to work with our partners to investigate illegal fireworks activities that endanger lives and property,” Logan asserted.
This case was the result of a thorough multi-agency investigation involving the Department of the Attorney General’s Special Investigation and Prosecution Division, the Honolulu Police Department (HPD), the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Fernandez’s sentencing is set for June 18, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. The case is officially recorded as State v. Gilchrist Fernandez, 1CPC-25-0000097, and serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities held by those in positions of authority within correctional facilities.
