KAILUA-KONA — The 26-year-old driver of a white Kia Soul who gained notoriety on social media earlier this year for its driver’s “erratic and dangerous” actions will spend up to five years behind bars.
William “Willy Boy” Duarte IV was sentenced Oct. 30 by Circuit Court Judge Melvin H. Fujino for four of the 10 charges he originally faced 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.
The judge ordered him to serve up to five years in prison for first-degree resisting an order to stop, a Class C felony; one year for second-degree reckless endangering; one year for driving without a license; and 30 days for leaving the scene of an accident involving property or vehicle damage. The latter charges are misdemeanors.
The sentences are to run concurrent, or at the same time. The Hawaii Paroling Authority will set the minimum term Duarte must serve before being eligible for parole. Duarte, who’s been held since his arrest in May at Hawaii Community Correctional Center, will receive credit for time served.
Duarte was also ordered to pay $245 in fees and $700 in restitution in the case.
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. It was part of a plea deal meted with prosecutors in which the state dropped six charges including two Class C felonies, one misdemeanor, three petty misdemeanors and two traffic infractions.
Duarte was also resentenced in connection with a 2017 case stemming from an incident in December 2016. At the time of the offenses earlier this year, Duarte was on probation and was wanted on a bench warrant for violating such probation.
Fujino on Oct. 30 ordered Duarte to serve up to five years in jail for first-degree resisting an order to stop in that case. The sentence runs concurrent with the case from earlier this year.
The judge also ordered Duarte pay $105 in fees and pay $500 in restitution owed in the case.
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.
