Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section, Area I
Lieutenant Gregory Esteban
Phone: 961-2252
Report No. C13017195
Media Release
Police have charged two Paʻauilo men in connection with the theft of a calf over the weekend in the Hāmākua District.
On Sunday (June 30) at about 11:30 a.m., police were contacted by a 54- year-old Honokaʻa resident, who reported that while checking his pasture land on private property, he discovered two individuals on the property and in possession of a firearm, along with a portion of a calf carcass that had recently been slaughtered.
The remaining carcass was recovered by police and was identified by its owner.
Later that afternoon, police arrested 22-year-old Lonnie James Knutson and 25-year-old Jason James Williams. They were taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation.
At 5 p.m. Monday (July 1), after conferring with prosecutors, detectives charged Knutson and Williams with one count each of livestock theft, a class C felony. Their bail was set at $2,000 each. Both men are scheduled to make their initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon (July 2).