Couple charged in relation to robbery, kidnapping outside Joanne’s Lounge in Hilo

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect the Court’s release of a revised bail order indicating that Nathan Pedro’s bail is set at $1,165,000. A previous announcement from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney cited a lower bail amount.

Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that 32-year-old Nathan Pedro of Pāhoa
and 30-year-old Jackie Carter of Hilo were arrested and charged in relation to a kidnapping and robbery incident that occurred on March 24 within the parking lot outside of Joanne’s
Lounge in Hilo.

Pedro was also charged with the attempted distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine.

Pedro and Carter made their initial appearances in Hilo District Court on Wednesday
afternoon. Pedro’s bail was set at $1,165,000 and he was ordered to appear for a preliminary
hearing on April 2. Carter’s bail was set at $110,000 and she was ordered to appear for
a preliminary hearing on April 1.

Pedro was charged with 24 offenses including kidnapping, robbery in the second degree, terroristic threatening in the first degree, assault in the second degree, theft in the second degree, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in the first degree, criminal property damage in the fourth degree, promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree, three counts of promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree, two counts of promoting a dangerous Drug in the second degree, four counts of attempted promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree, four counts of promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree and three counts of promoting a harmful drug in the fourth degree.

Carter was charged with kidnapping, robbery in the second degree and theft in the second degree.

The most serious offenses, kidnapping, promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree and attempted promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree, are all class A felony offenses
which carry a maximum penalty of a 20-year prison term.