Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that 18 year-old Chandsome Kawelo-Lewi was arrested and charged in relation to a criminal property damage and terroristic threatening incident that occurred on February 21, 2024 at the Black Rock Café in Pahoa. According to police reports, Kawelo-Lewi is alleged to have punched and shattered a glass window pane within close proximity to the complainants placing them in danger of bodily injury.
Kawelo-Lewi made his initial appearance in Hilo District Court on Wednesday afternoon. Over Prosecutors’ objections, his bail was reduced from $11,500.00 to $5,000.00 and he was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on April 5, 2024.
As the Complaint alleges, Kawelo-Lewi was charged with two counts of Criminal Property Damage in the First Degree (intentionally damage property, a glass window, and thereby recklessly placed another person in danger of bodily injury) and a single count each of Terroristic Threatening in the Second Degree and Criminal Property Damage in the Fourth Degree.
Criminal Property Damage in the First Degree is a class B felony offense which carries either a penalty of a ten-year prison term or four years probation and up to eighteen months in jail.
The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was initiated by Officers Robert Kamau and Calvin Furtado, Puna Patrol. The felony investigation was handled by the Crime Reduction Unit, Area I Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Soong.
The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney remains dedicated to the pursuit of justice with integrity and commitment. Anyone having information to assist local law enforcement should call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.