Ocean View man charged with theft of Hyundai Elantra

An Ocean View man faces theft and drug charges following a report of a stolen vehicle in early November.

According to the Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, 41-year-old Ross Richard Piper was arrested and charged with the felony theft of a Hyundai Elantra that was originally reported stolen Nov. 4 from an Ocean View business.

Piper was charged with first-degree theft, first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and third-degree promoting a dangerous drug, in this case fentanyl. The most serious offense, first-degree theft, is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison or four years probation and up to 18 months in jail.

Piper made his initial appearance Dec. 2 in Kona District Court. Defense counsel’s motion for a bail reduction was granted despite objection from prosecutors and Piper’s bail was reduced from $45,000 to $10,000.

The case was initiated by Officers James Lorenzo and Xylon Takata with the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Kaʻū Patrol and the arrest was made by Officer Elijah Won with the Kona Patrol. The felony investigation was handled by Detective Steven Grace with the Police Department’s Area II Criminal Investigation Section and Officer Chandler Nacino with the Area II Vice Section.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy County Prosecuting Attorney Annaliese Wolf.