Hawaiʻi Police Department
South Hilo Patrol
Captain Richard Sherlock
Phone: 961-2214
Report No. C13032256
Keoni Mata
Media Release
Hawaiʻi Island police have charged a second man with numerous offenses related to burglaries in the Waiākea area of Hilo.
On Monday (December 15), 30-year old Keoni Mata of Hilo was initially arrested on a $500 bench warrant for contempt of court and for suspicion of fraudulent use of a credit card. The card was removed during a burglary in the Waiākea area on December 2.
Mata was taken to the Hilo police cellblock while South Hilo patrol officers continued the investigation. While in custody, Mata was additionally arrested for burglary in connection with a Waiākea break-in on December 5 and for theft in connection with a Waiākea burglary on December 12.
Tuesday evening (December 17) police charged Mata with two counts of burglary, eight counts of theft, four counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, three counts of identity theft and two counts of forgery. His bail was set at $185,000. He remained at the cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Wednesday afternoon (December 18).
Last week, 18-year-old Kyson Dameron of Hilo was also arrested and charged with crimes related to these three burglaries, including the use of a stolen credit card.