A 28-year-old Kona man who was indicted in 2022 on two dozen charges stemming from an alleged armed robbery that was followed by a car crash and the man reportedly shooting at a police officer pleaded guilty to two charges on Tuesday.
Dyllan Paulo-Leslie was charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree reckless endangering, first-degree robbery, second-degree theft, first-degree criminal property damage, driving without a license, inattention to driving, second-degree promoting a dangerous drug and three counts first-degree terroristic threatening.
In addition, he faced a slew of firearms offenses, including four counts ownership or possession of a firearm when prohibited due to previous felony conviction.
According to the indictment, Paulo-Leslie was subject to extended terms of imprisonment, having six prior felony convictions including second-degree escape, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle along with drug and theft convictions.
An agreement was reached with the state in which Paulo-Leslie pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and first-degree criminal property damage. Extended terms of imprisonment were not sought by prosecutors.
According to testimony given by Hawaii Police Department personnel, officers responded to Rainbow Cafe on Kauhola Street in the Kaloko Light Industrial Park, and learned the suspect, described as a man armed with a firearm wearing dark clothing and a face covering, entered the establishment through a back door and brandished the firearm, pointing it at three kitchen employees, asking “where’s the money”?
Police said he then entered the dining/register area and removed approximately $1,000 from a metal safe and blue bag from the service counter area as 10 patrons and employees fled the area. Court documents state he also took a minor’s backpack that contained homework, a school-issued laptop and a flute.
The man then fled the scene in a gray lifted pickup truck with a female passenger, later identified as 34-year-old Brittany Johnson of Holualoa. As the vehicle fled the area, an officer observed the truck driving recklessly heading east on Hina Lani Street. While attempting to catch up to the vehicle the officer saw it collide with another vehicle at the street’s intersection with Highway 190. Both vehicles were rendered inoperable.
As the officer arrived at the scene, he observed Johnson crawl out of the passenger side window and the driver, later identified as Paulo-Leslie, exit the vehicle, taking cover behind the truck. The officer told the man to show his hands, but Paulo-Leslie did not comply and but fired a shot that “narrowly missed” the officer and struck the rear driver’s side tire of the patrol vehicle. As the officer called for assistance, Paulo-Leslie and Johnson fled the area on foot.
Other patrol units located the pair a short time later and both were taken into custody.
The driver of the other vehicle, a 51-year-old Kailua-Kona woman, was not injured.
Detectives responded to the scenes where they recovered video from surveillance cameras from the restaurant and impounded the truck.
A search warrant was later served on Johnson’s vehicle where a firearm, ammunition, drugs and items taken during the robbery were reportedly recovered. Johnson was not charged.
Paulo-Leslie also has been charged for unrelated outstanding offenses, including unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree theft, and discharge of sureties and escape.
First-degree robbery is a class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment. First-degree criminal property damage is a class B felony which carries a maximum term of 10 years.
Sentencing is set for Feb. 23, 2024.
