KAILUA-KONA — Sentencing is scheduled this fall for the driver of a white Kia Soul that gained notoriety on social media earlier this year for it’s driver’s “erratic and dangerous” actions.
William “Willy Boy” Duarte IV, 26, faces up to five years behind bars or one year imprisonment and four yearsprobation for his actions behind the wheel in April and May, though the vehicle with heavy body damage began popping up on social media in January. Duarte’s set to be sentenced Oct. 30 by Kona Circuit Court Judge Melvin H. Fujino.
In a plea deal with prosecutors, Duarte pleaded guilty on Aug. 8 to four of the 10 charges filed against him in May in connection with incidents that unfolded on April 21, May 4 and May 6, when Duarte was taken into police custody.
In exchange for pleading guilty to misdemeanor offenses of driving without a license, leaving the scene of an accident involving damage to vehicle or property and second-degree reckless endangering, and first-degree resisting an order to stop, a Class C felony, the state agreed to drop six charges. Those charges comprised two Class C felonies, one misdemeanor, three petty misdemeanors and two traffic infractions.
Prosecutors also agreed to recommend concurrent sentencing in the case as well as with two other cases. The deal also notes prosecutor’s intent to recommend a prison sentence.
Duarte pleaded not guilty in May to three counts first-degree resisting an order to stop; three counts reckless driving; two counts driving without a license (after having two or more prior convictions within the last five years); two counts fraudulent use of plates; and one count each second-degree reckless endangering and leaving the scene of an accident involving damage to vehicle or property.
He’s been held at Hawaii Community Correctional Center since his arrest in lieu of $34,775 bail. Trial had been set to open today.
Duarte was taken into police custody on May 6 when a Hawaii Police Department officer grabbing a cup of coffee saw him at the Lako Street Shell gas station.
The white Kia Soul with heavy body damage Duarte had been reportedly driving gained notoriety starting in January as residents posted about the white subcompact SUV on social media. Dozens of posts on Big Island Popo Alert and Big Island Thieves garnered hundreds of comments on the vehicle, its driver and their location. Police were also following the postings.
The charges filed against Duarte stem from incidents that unfolded after officers attempted unsuccessfully to stop the vehicle and its driver for traffic violations on April 21 near Lako Street and twice on May 4 in Kailua Village. No officers were injured in the incidents, however, police say Duarte unintentionally struck a subsidized police vehicle as he fled.