Hilo man charged with drug, firearms offenses

A 43-year-old Hilo man is facing an array of drug and firearm charges stemming from a traffic stop last week in Hilo.

Shortly after 10:30 p.m. Jan. 22, South Hilo patrol officers observed a white Nissan sedan stopped in the left-turn lane on Kanoelehua Avenue toward the entrance to the airport. The vehicle was running; however, it was not moving, according to a press release from the Hawaii Police Department.

Officers approached the vehicle to investigate and observed the driver to be slumped over and he appeared to be sleeping. Officers woke the driver and he could not provide valid insurance or registration for the vehicle and it was confirmed that he had a revoked driver’s license.

The driver, Cory George Young, was then ordered to exit the vehicle, at which time police reportedly observed the handle of a firearm protruding from under the driver’s seat.

Young was placed under arrest and transported to the South Hilo police station. The vehicle was recovered as evidence.

A search warrant executed on the vehicle reportedly yielded a loaded 22-caliber handgun, just over 2.17 pounds of methamphetamine, 21.4 grams of dried processed marijuana, and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia.

Young was charged with place to keep pistol/revolver, firearm on highway, two counts of ownership prohibited, possession of a firearm with intent to facilitate drugs, first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, place to keep ammunition, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, and driving without a valid driver’s license. Bail was set at 254,000.

In addition to the charges stemming from the Jan. 22 incident, Young was also arrested and charged on a no-bail parole violation warrant.