Judge: Drug and firearm suspect to remain in custody

A judge on Monday ruled probable cause exists to continue holding a 30-year-old Pahoa man accused of a multitude of felonies in custody.

Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk maintained bail for Guy M. Nobriga Jr. at $468,000 and ordered Nobriga to return to court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.

Deputy Public Defender Jared Auna had requested Hawk free Nobriga on supervised release — a form of cashless bail — while Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Son objected to supervised release, noting previous felonies.

Nobriga is charged with: first-degree theft of a firearm; carrying a firearm in the commission of a felony; being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; carrying a loaded firearm on a public roadway; illegally carrying a handgun; possessing an illegal magazine; second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug; two counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug; two counts of marijuana possession; second-degree reckless endangering; and driving without a license.

According to police, the charges stem from an incident reported late Thursday night, when officers responded to a report of gunshots from a red Honda sedan near the intersection of Kahakai Boulevard and Ahi Street in Hawaiian Beaches subdivision in Pahoa.

Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, police said, unrelated traffic violation, identified Nobriga as the driver and 32-year-old Elizabeth F. Lee of Pahoa as his passenger.

Officers reportedly spotted a black handgun, in plain view, partially under the front driver’s seat within the vehicle. They placed Nobriga, who was wanted on an unrelated warrant, and Lee under arrest.

The vehicle was recovered as evidence and a search warrant was obtained.

According to police, the search turned up a loaded Glock semi-automatic pistol, which was determined to have been reported stolen in a previous incident. The magazine within the pistol was also reportedly found to exceed the legal capacity of 10 rounds of ammunition.

Detectives also allegedly recovered from within the vehicle: 1.77 grams of methamphetamine; 15.52 grams of dried marijuana; a digital scale indicative of drug distribution and other drug paraphernalia.

The most serious offense, carrying a firearm in the commission of a felony, is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, upon conviction.

Nobriga remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of bail.

Lee was released from police custody pending further investigation.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.