Convicted felon charged with stealing an 84-year-old man’s car

A Kona District Court judge maintained bail of $293,000 for a convicted felon who is now facing additional felony-related charges after allegedly stealing a vehicle from an elderly man in Kona.

Walter Gomes, 47, appeared in District Court on Tuesday where he was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

Gomes is facing a myriad of offenses including first-degree theft; first-degree robbery; first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle; carrying or use of a firearm in the commission of a separate offense; carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway; place to keep loaded firearms other than pistols and revolvers; ownership, possession or control of a firearm or ammunition prohibited; ownership prohibited; two counts of ownership prohibited related to an active temporary restraining order; place to keep ammunition; first-degree terroristic threatening; second-degree assault against a law enformcent officer; and fourth-degree criminal property damage.

The most serious offense Gomes now faces is the robbery and carrying or use of firearm in the commission of a separate felony, both of which are class A felony offenses carrying a penalty of a 20-year prison term.

Prosecutors have provided notice that Gomes may be subject to a mandatory prison term and not be eligible for probation.

Charges stem from an incident on May 24, when an 84-year-old man reported his vehicle stolen.

According to a probable cause statement, the victim told Hawai‘i Island police that he was approached by a man, later identified as Gomes, at 12:30 p.m. outside his 2018 Toyota Corolla, fronting a residence on Ala Onaona Street, when he asked to borrow his vehicle.

After telling Gomes he didn’t want to allow him to borrow the car, Gomes reached into his waistband and brandished a black handgun, saying: “You know what this is? Let me borrow your car,” according to a probable cause statement filed in the District Court.

Fearing for his safety, the elderly man gave his keys to the suspect. At that point, Gomes got into the car and left the area.

According to court documents, the 84-year-old was confronted by one of his employees informing him that the suspect could be his friend, Gomes.

Gomes was taken into custody the following morning when police found the stolen vehicle at 1:27 a.m. in the south parking lot area of the Parker Ranch Center in Waimea.

Gomes was found reclined in the front driver’s seat, sleeping. He was taken into custody without incident.

Gomes was convicted in 2020 on felony charges of resisting an order to stop and first-degree assault in connection with a shooting incident that left a woman injured in Kona in 2019.

Gomes was handed a five-year prison sentence with credit for time served. Hawai‘i County prosecuting attorney Kelden Waltjen said Gomes was eventually granted parole.