Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that a Puna man, 33-year-old Travis Kekaulike Canda-Tripp, was sentenced to consecutive prison terms in Hilo Circuit Court for property crimes and a resisting an order to stop case. Prosecutors filed a motion seeking consecutive term sentencing for the Court’s consideration. After review, the Court sentenced Canda-Tripp to the maximum penalty, five (5) year prison terms for a class C felony, in each of the cases and ordered that Canda-Tripp serve his burglary sentence consecutively to his sentences in the unauthorized control propelled vehicle and resisting an order to stop cases.
On November 25, 2020, Canda-Tripp entered “Guilty” pleas to the offenses of Burglary in the Second Degree, in relation to a Mountain View burglary that occurred on May 24, 2020, Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle, in relation to a Nissan Frontier that was originally reported stolen on February 11, 2020, from the Pahoa Longs Drugs Store’s parking lot, and Resisting an Order to Stop a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree, in relation to an incident that occurred on March 17, 2020, in Puna.
The investigations were handled by Puna Patrol and the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The cases were prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kimberly Angay.
Review of court minutes indicates that following the entry of his “Guilty” pleas in the above-mentioned cases, Canda-Tripp was subsequently arrested and charged with three other unrelated felony matters, all of which are still pending. The charges in those cases are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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.
