Puna Man Scheduled to Appear in Court on Charge Related to Forklift Theft

A Puna man is scheduled to appear in Hilo District Court this afternoon on charges related to the theft of a telehandler forklift.

Forty-six-year-old Captain Blackwell is accused of stealing the equipment, valued at more than $100,000, from a Puna business. the forklift was later located through its GPS tracking system at a Leilani Estates subdivision residence on Feb. 25, according to a press release from the Hawaiʻi County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.

According to court documents, Blackwell, who is a repeat offender with prior felony convictions, was charged with first-degree theft, a class B felony. If convicted as charged, the 46-year-old faces a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

Blackwell has prior convictions of first-degree burglary, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and place to keep pistol or revolver.

Blackwell remains in custody in lieu of $25,000 bail pending his initial appearance.