HILO — A 26-year-old Keaau woman accused of stealing a gun from a Hawaii Police Department officer and a vehicle from another individual will have her case heard in Hilo Circuit Court.
On Thursday, Cianna Anderson waived her right to a preliminary hearing. She was ordered by Hilo District Judge Bruce Larson to appear for arraignment and plea at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 7 before Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto.
She’s charged with first-degree theft, carrying a loaded firearm on a public highway, unauthorized control of a stolen vehicle, second-degree theft and two counts of fourth-degree theft.
According to police, Anderson was taken into custody Jan. 14 on suspicion of shoplifting in the parking lot of Malama Market in Pahoa. Police say the car she was driving was later reported stolen by its owner.
According to the complaint, also found in the vehicle was methamphetamine, a backpack with a Glock 19 model 9 mm semi-automatic handgun issued as a supplemental weapon to the officer, Nicholas McDaniel, and other items identified as belonging to McDaniel, Malama Market and the vehicle’s owner, Scotty Orita.
According to police, McDaniel last saw the backpack with the firearm on Jan. 13 in his subsidized vehicle.
First-degree theft, for the theft of the firearm, and carrying a firearm on a public highway are Class B felonies punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, upon conviction. Second-degree theft and unauthorized control of a stolen vehicle are Class C felonies punishable by up to five years in prison.
According to the Department of Public Safety website, Anderson remained in custody Monday at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $16,500 bail.
How did Ms. Anderson end up in such a sorry state? Could WHT tell us more about this woman and what led up to the crimes she committed? Can the police find out where she got the methamphetamine and where it was produced, then bust the dealers? A followup story please.
Exactly HOW did this girl get the police officer’s firearm?? Kind of a big hole missing from story. WTB journalist.
She got it because the officer left It in a backpack unattended in an unlocked police car, if you read between the lines. You won’t hear anything from the traveling Chief though, he got his raise and is like all the other heads, laughing to the bank. This thief deserves to go to prison but the officer should never leave a loaded gun unattended in a car. What if a kid got a hold of it?
Shoplifting in the parkinglot? LOL I don’t remember hearing about this last month when it happened! If it wasn’t true I’d think it would be a fabulous comedy…. This is what happens when the majority of police manpower and funds are spent on running traffic stings to generate funds for the new Kona courthouse. The real criminals are running rampant and the cops are too tired from there triple shifts guarding traffic.
Remember, only those highly trained polices should be allowed to possess firearms……. /libspeak
We need more gun regulation(.Y.)
Losing your gun isn’t that punishable by suspension?