Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigation Section, Area I
Acting Lieutenant Todd Pataray
Phone:(808) 961-2382
Report No. 19-052228
Media Release
Hawaiʻi Island detectives have charged a 22-year-old Pāhoa man in connection with two separate burglaries from a charter school in Puna.
On Monday morning (July 8), at 7:42 a.m., Puna police officers stopped a vehicle on Highway 130 near Paradise Drive for traffic violations and contacted the driver of the vehicle, Jenson Castillas, and a 21-year-old female passenger. Officers observed several items within the rear of the vehicle that were similar to several items reported stolen from a charter school in Pahoa two days prior (June 6).
Officers also learned that the same charter school was just burglarized and additional items were also stolen. Castillas and his passenger were taken into custody and were held in the police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigations into both burglaries.
On Tuesday (July 9) at 4:16 p.m., after conferring with prosecutors, detectives charged Castillas with two counts of second-degree burglary and his bail was set at $4000. He made his initial court appearance on Wednesday (July 10). The female was released pending further investigation.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call or Detective Wendall Carter at (808) 961-2383 or email wendall.carter@hawaiicounty.gov. or call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.