HILO, HI – Dyllan Paulo-Leslie, 29, of Kona, was sentenced to a 25-year prison term on February 28, 2025, in Hilo Circuit Court for his involvement in a November 2022 armed robbery and an April 2023 escape from the Hawai‘i Community Correctional Center (HCCC). The announcement was made by Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen.
Paulo-Leslie’s sentence stems from two separate incidents. On November 10, 2022, he brandished a firearm during a robbery at a restaurant in the Kaloko Industrial Park. He and a female passenger fled the scene in a Toyota Tacoma, which subsequently collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Route 190 and Hina Lani Street. Following the collision, Paulo-Leslie discharged a firearm at a responding police officer, striking the rear driver’s side tire of the officer’s vehicle. He was apprehended shortly after at a residence on Old Mamalahoa Highway.
The second incident occurred on April 21, 2023, when Paulo-Leslie escaped from HCCC by scaling a fence. He was apprehended the following day in a ravine adjacent to the Hilo High School campus and transported to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained during the escape.
Previously, on June 25, 2024, Paulo-Leslie was sentenced to a 20-year prison term for Robbery in the First Degree (a Class A felony involving the use of a firearm and threats of death or serious bodily injury during a theft) and a 10-year prison term for Criminal Property Damage in the First Degree (a Class B felony involving intentional damage to property by discharging a firearm), after pleading guilty to the charges in a December 25, 2023, hearing in Kona Circuit Court.
During the February 28th sentencing hearing for the escape, after reviewing the presentence investigation report and hearing arguments from both sides, Paulo-Leslie received a consecutive five-year prison term for the escape, adding to his existing 20-year sentence. He was immediately taken into custody to begin serving his 25-year term.
Robbery in the First Degree carries a penalty of a 20-year prison term, Criminal Property Damage in the First Degree carries a maximum penalty of a 10-year prison term, and Escape in the Second Degree carries a maximum penalty of a 5-year prison term.
The robbery and criminal property damage case was investigated by Kona Patrol, with the felony investigation led by Detective Sheldon Nakamoto of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The escape case was investigated by South Hilo Patrol, with the felony investigation led by Detective Scotty Aloy of the Area I Vice Section, formerly of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section. Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Kaua Jackson and Kate Perazich prosecuted the case.
The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney encourages anyone with information to assist local law enforcement to call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. They remain committed to the pursuit of justice with integrity and commitment.
