KEALAKEKUA — The man who attempted to smuggle drugs from California to Hawaii was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison Tuesday, after an extensive plea for probation.
James Bruno, 28, of Oceanside, California, arrived at Kona International Airport on Dec. 5. He and two other people were arrested at the intersection of the airport road and Queen Kaahamanu Highway.
During a search police recovered 50.3 grams of heroin and 12.7 grams of meth from Bruno’s body cavities. Additional heroin was recovered from the van.
When he was transported to the hospital for the search, Bruno apparently smeared tar heroin through the police transport van, according to court filings. They also recovered that heroin apparently smeared by Bruno.
He was charged with attempted first-degree meth trafficking, first-degree promoting a dangerous drug, tampering with physical evidence, second-degree criminal tampering and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of two counts of second-degree promoting a controlled substance.
“He does not appear to be a good probation candidate,” said deputy prosecuting attorney Kimberly Taniyama, highlighting his criminal record in California. Bruno was assigned to probation several times there.
“He’s been very motivated” to improve his situation, said defense attorney Ann Datta, applying to every drug treatment facility he can. One was ready to accept him, she said.
Judge Melvin Fujino asked him how many felonies Bruno had, eight, and how old he was, 28, which included multiple stays in jail and prison.
“Maybe they’ll just leave you there,” Fujino said.
“I hope not,” Bruno said.
A major difficulty in California was the fact he knew drug users and suppliers, which made it difficult to stay clean, he said. That included drug use at the probation center, he said.
He said he hoped that being in Hawaii, with a new group of people, would allow a fresh start.
“When you start doing heroin it spirals out of control,” he said.
That led to him trying to smuggle the drugs into Hawaii, he said.
“The second I stick the needle in my arm and do heroin, I don’t care,” he said.
Fujino decided to sentence him to a maximum of 10 years in prison.
“If you really want to get into rehab, do it at that time,” he said.
Bruno’s co-defendants have had their cases complete.
Kellen Foster, 32, who was driving the van at the time of the stop, was issued a citation for turning without signalling. Jessica A. Tsibulski, 21, was charged with third-degree promoting a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. At her preliminary hearing both counts were discharged.