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Two Hawaii island men were arrested Wednesday for allegedly stealing 80 pounds of avocados from a Puna orchard.
Max Mattos, 49, of Keaau and Kawika Nobriga, 33, of Pahoa were arrested and charged with second-degree criminal trespass and second-degree theft.
Puna police were called Wednesday to the orchard off Highway 132 in the Kapoho area at 4:45 p.m. The farm owner and a friend had blocked a pickup truck loaded with the avocados and confronted the two men and one woman who were in the pickup, police said.
Mattos is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. today in Puna District Court.
He asked for but was denied supervised release. He remains in custody, unable to post $2,500 bail.
Nobriga pleaded not guilty Thursday to both charges and is scheduled to appear in Hilo District Court at 2 p.m. Sept. 12 for a preliminary hearing. The judge granted him supervisory release.
Sabrina Jaeger, 30, of Pahoa, arrested on a bench warrant, was not charged in the theft case. She was released after posting $300 bail.
Assault inquiry targets officer
Criminal and administrative investigations have been initiated after a rookie Honolulu police officer allegedly assaulted an Uber driver.
However, since no one was arrested and no charges have been filed, police have not released any details about the incident. The officer has been on the police force for one year. He has been placed on restricted duty until the investigations are completed.
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