Two Arrested for Alleged Puna Avocado Theft
Two men are being held on charges after being arrested for allegedly stealing avocados from an orchard in Puna.
In response to a 4:45 p.m. call Wednesday, Aug. 24, Puna District officers learned that the owner of an orchard off Highway 132 in the Kapoho area had confronted two men and a woman in a pickup truck on his property after observing 80 pounds of avocados in the bed of the truck.
The owner and a friend had blocked the truck and called the police.
The two men, 49-year-old Max Mattos of Keaʻau and 33-year-old Kawika Nobriga of Pāhoa, were arrested and charged with second-degree criminal trespass and second-degree theft. Their bail was set at $2,500 each.
The woman, 30-year-old Sabrina Jaeger of Pāhoa, was arrested on a bench warrant and charged with contempt of court. She was released after posting $300 bail.
Mattos and Nobriga are being held at the Hilo police cellblock pending their initial court appearance scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 25.