A 79-year-old Kailua-Kona man has been indicted by a Kona grand jury on numerous drug and firearms charges. ADVERTISING A 79-year-old Kailua-Kona man has been indicted by a Kona grand jury on numerous drug and firearms charges. The 10-count indictment
A 79-year-old Kailua-Kona man has been indicted by a Kona grand jury on numerous drug and firearms charges.
The 10-count indictment charges Norman Eiji Nakamoto with second-degree methamphetamine trafficking, two counts of second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, plus second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, fourth degree promotion of a harmful drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm with the intent to commit a felony drug offense, no firearm registration and no permit to acquire a firearm.
Nakamoto was rearrested on the charges, which stem from a search warrant executed Dec. 27 on a Lihau Street residence in Kailua-Kona.
According to a police spokeswoman, officers seized 5.4 grams of methamphetamine, 77.3 grams of marijuana, 10 tables of hydrocodone and five of oxycodone — two semi-synthetic opioid painkillers marketed as Vicodin and Oxycontin, respectively — and 20 tablets of lorazepam, an anti-anxiety drug marketed as Ativan.
The spokeswoman said officers also confiscated a loaded rifle.
Possession of a firearm with intent to commit a felony drug offense is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Second-degree methamphetamine trafficking and second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug are Class B felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia are Class C felonies punishable by up to five years in prison. Second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug are misdemeanors.
Possessing a firearm without a permit to acquire is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, and possessing an unregistered firearm is a petty misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail.
A search of court records turned up no prior felony convictions for Nakamoto, who is free on $100,000 bail. He is scheduled for arraignment and plea Friday before Kona Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
