Puna man released in case of deadly Orchidland Estates traffic crash despite objections by prosecutors

A 30-year-old Puna man is out of custody following his initial court appearance Monday on charges related to a deadly traffic collision.

Hawai’i County prosecutor’s office reports that Dallas Brooks — who was in custody on a $100,000 indictment warrant — appeared Monday afternoon in Hilo Circuit Court.

He is charged in connection with a May 16 traffic crash that caused the death of Maxwell Robertson Sherwood at the intersection of 36th Avenue and Orchidland Drive in Orchidland Estates.

Brooks — despite objection by prosecutors — was granted supervised release by the court as requested by his defense counsel. The next hearing in the case was also scheduled for Jan. 21, 2026.

He was indicted by a Hilo grand jury for first-degree negligent homicide — for causing the death of another person by operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner while under the influence of alcohol — and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.

Prosecutors further allege Brooks was a highly intoxicated driver, increasing the offense from a Class B to a Class A felony.

A highly intoxicated driver is a driver having a blood alcohol contect of 0.15 or more grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters or cubic centimeters of blood.

First-degree negligent homicide with the highly intoxicated driver enhancement is a Class A felony punishable by 20 years in prison if convicted.

The case was initiated by Hawai‘i Police Department Puna Patrol. The felony investigation was led by Officer Joshua Rodby-Thomas with Hawai‘i Police Department’s Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Woodward.