Two men charged with Puna property crimes
Two 19-year-old men are facing charges in connection with alleged property crimes in Puna.
Nathanuel Chow-Guzman of Keaau is charged with with two counts of auto theft, plus first-degree burglary, first-degree unauthorized entry to a motor vehicle, fourth-degree theft, unauthorized possession of confidential personal information, trespassing, property damage, resisting an order to stop and contempt of court.
And 19-year-old Isaiah Smith of Pahala is charged with first-degree hindering prosecution, second-degree unauthorized entry to a motor vehicle, and being an accomplice to fourth-degree theft.
According to county Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen, Chow-Guzman is accused stealing a Toyota Tundra pickup truck originally reported stolen from a Hawaiian Paradise Park residence on Oct. 18, and the theft of a Honda CR-V sport-utility vehicle originally reported stolen from a Hawaiian Paradise Park residence on Jan 5.
He’s also accused of fleeing from police on Jan. 10.
When arrested, Chow-Guzman was wanted on a felony warrant for burglary and several other offenses that occurred on Oct. 11 and Oct. 12, according to court records.
Chow-Guzman appeared Thursday on the auto theft charges in Hilo District Court and the burglary and other charges in Hilo Circuit Court. His appearance was via Zoom, as he was in medical isolation in Hawaii Community Correctional Center, according to court minutes.
Chow-Guzman has court dates scheduled for Jan. 25, Jan. 27 and Jan. 31, and remains in custody in lieu of $75,000 total bail.
According to police, Smith was an accomplice to a theft allegedly committed by Chow-Guzman and another man of a gate from a home on Sandalwood Court in Tiki Gardens subdivision in Pahoa. He also allowed Smith to stay in his home, even though he knew Smith was designated as one of “Hawaii Island’s Most Wanted” fugitives, documents state.
In addition, according to documents, Smith willingly accompanied Chow-Guzman in the CR-V Smith knew was stolen as Chow-Guzman “committed various crimes” in Puna.
Smith also appeared Thursday in Hilo District Court and was grated court-supervised release without the posting of bail. He’s been ordered to appear again Feb. 3.
The most serious charged faced by Chow-Guzman is first-degree burglary, a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, upon conviction.
The first-degree hindering prosecution charge Smith faces is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison, upon conviction.
Neither man has a prior felony conviction, documents state.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
