44-year old arrested on multiple drug and firearms charges in Hilo

Douglas Louis of Pāhala was arrested and charged with multiple firearms and drug offenses following a report filed early Saturday morning in Hilo.

Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that 44-year-old Louis was arrested and charged with methamphetamine and firearms offenses following a report of suspicious vehicles in the early morning hours of July 12 on Kūpuna Place in Hilo.

According to police reports, following the execution of search warrants on a vehicle Louis was operating, police recovered more than 1.8 pounds of methamphetamine, two ghost guns, an AR-15-style rifle, a .45-caliber pistol, a Ruger .22-caliber rifle, and ammunition.

Louis was also arrested on three unrelated outstanding warrants.

He made his initial appearance in Hilo District Court on Monday afternoon, and his bail was maintained at $485,000. Louis was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 16.

As the complaint alleges, Louis is charged with the following:

• Promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree (possessing one ounce or more of methamphetamine)
• Promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree
• Place to keep pistol or revolver
• Place to keep ammunition
• Unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle in the first degree
• Ownership, possession, or control of ammunition prohibited
• Three counts of ownership, possession, or control of firearm prohibited; three counts of permits to acquire; three counts of registration mandatory
• Two counts of place to keep unloaded firearms other than pistols and revolvers
• Two counts of ownership prohibited or “ghost gun”

The most serious offense, promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree, is a Class A felony and carries a penalty of either a 20-year prison term or 10 years probation and up to two years in jail.

Place to keep pistol or revolver and ownership, possession, or control prohibited are both Class B felony offenses and carry a penalty of either a 10-year prison term or four years probation and up to 18 months in jail.

The charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case was initiated by South Hilo Patrol and the felony investigation was led by Detective Lisa Ebesugawa, Area I Criminal Investigation Section, assisted by Officer Spencer Thomas, VICE-East.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Malate.

Anyone having information to assist local law enforcement should call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.