Mountain View man charged with reported theft of SUV, 2 incidents of refusing to stop

A 30-year-old Puna man faces several charges in connection with the reported theft of an SUV at the end of June and two separate incidents earlier this month when he refused orders by Big Island police to stop while he was driving.

The Hawai‘i County prosecutor’s office reports Justin Yamauchi of Mountain View is charged with:

• First-degree theft (theft of a motor vehicle).
• First-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.
• Habitual property crime.
• Driving without a license.
• Two counts of second-degree resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle.

Yamauchi made his initial court appearance July 16 in Hilo District Court, where his bail was maintained at $135,000. He was also ordered to appear July 18 for a preliminary hearing.

The most serious offense, first-degree theft, is a Class B felony punishable by either 10 years in prison or 4 years probation and up to 18 months in jail.

Yamauchi was arrested and charged with the alleged theft of a Subaru Outback reported stolen June 29 from a Kino‘ole Street home in Hilo, as well as two separate incidents July 7 and 14 when police ordered him to stop and he is reported to have resisted.

Police reports say Hawai‘i Police Department Crime Reduction Unit officers arrested Yamauchi on July 15 at the Kurtistown 7-Eleven after he was seen driving the stolen Subaru.

The 30-year-old Mountain View man was also arrested at the same time on two unrelated outstanding arrest warrants.

Hawai‘i Police Department South Hilo Patrol investigated the reported SUV theft and Puna Patrol initiated the resisting an order to stop investigations.

The Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigation Section Crime Reduction Unit Officers Edward Petrie and Sean-Tyler Kepoo led the felony investigation.

Deputy Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Woodrow Pengelly is prosecuting the case.