Bail reduced to $10,000 for a Big Island man reportedly found in a stolen vehicle with drugs and loaded firearm

A Kona District Court judge reduced bail for an Ocean View man accused of stealing a vehicle and found with drugs and a loaded semi-automatic rifle.

Daniel James Lemaire, 42, appeared before Judge Kimberly Taniyama on Monday where she reduced his bail from $288,250 to $10,000 over the prosecutor’s objection. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

Lemaire is accused of stealing a Saturn Vue from Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport sometime between Aug. 27 and Sept. 1. Hawai‘i Island police came into contact with the 42-year-old at 11:20 a.m. on Friday after they saw the vehicle exiting the parking lot in the 75-6000 block of Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona and conducted a traffic stop.

Lemaire was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. He was taken into custody and transported to the Kealakehe Police Station while Kona patrol officers continued their investigation and recovered the stolen vehicle.

A search of the car yielded the recovery of 51.53 grams of methamphetamine, 29.35 grams of marijuana, a loaded semi-automatic rifle, 12 rounds of ammunition and drug paraphernalia consistent with methamphetamine distribution.

Lemaire is facing 13 charges, three of which are class A felonies: first-degree attempted promotion of a dangerous drug; first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possession of a firearm with the intent to facilitate a felony drug offense.

A class A felony carries a punishment of up to 20 years in prison.

Lemaire was also charged with:

• Unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle
• Permits to acquire
• First-degree theft
• Driving without a license
• 2 counts of ownership/possession prohibited
• Place to keep loaded firearm
• Carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway
• Second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug
• Prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia