Kona judge reduces bail for man facing drug charges

A Kona District Court judge reduced bail by $100,000 for a 37-year-old man who is facing drug charges after being found with almost 2 ounces of suspected methamphetamine.

James Haskins, of Kailua-Kona, was arrested at Kohanaiki Ohana Fuels on July 14 after a search of his vehicle by Hawai‘i Island police Vice officers yielded 47.2 grams or 1.67 ounces of a substance that tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine, an operable digital scale, multiple clean and unused zip type packets, two clear glass smoking pipes, and a debit card belonging to another person.

Initially being held on $220,000 bail, Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya granted a reduction in bail to $100,000 during Haskins’ initial court appearance on Wednesday, over the prosecuting attorney’s objections.

Haskins was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on Friday. He is being charged with first-degree attempted promotion of a dangerous drug, first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and unauthorized possession of confidential personal information.

Both drug charges are class A felonies and carry a penalty of either a 20-year prison term or 10 years probation and up to two years in jail.