Puna man with criminal history faces new robbery, kidnapping charges
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A Puna man with a criminal history faces new charges related to a string of offenses last week.
Hawaii Island prosecutors said 33-year-old Lawrence Kekoa Botelho now faces six new charges including first-degree robbery, kidnapping, terroristic threatening, and drug offenses.
Police said Botelho was hitchhiking when he was picked up by a 34-year-old man on the side of the road in Hawaiian Paradise Park.
When they arrived in Hilo, they went through a fast-food drive-thru in the Puainako Town Center. While in line, the victim reported Botelho began acting erratically, yelling and threatening the man.
The victim eventually got out of the car and Botelho allegedly stole the vehicle. It wasn’t until Friday when Botelho was located and arrested in Panaewa.
He was also arrested for an outstanding warrant related to a motion for revocation of his felony probation.
Prosecutors said Botelho has a prior felony conviction for second-degree robbery. He remains in custody in lieu of $132,000 bail.
If convicted, he faces a mandatory prison term as a repeat offender. The charges of first-degree kidnapping and robbery carry the harshest penalties of up to 20 years in prison.
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