Judge finds enough evidence to charge man in truck theft

WAILUKU — After locating his stolen truck at a Waiehu beach, the owner testified he was pulled by the hair from the passenger side through the truck and out the driver’s door by a man who then drove away in the truck.

During a preliminary hearing Friday in Wailuku District Court, the owner identified the driver as Jessie Dutro, who was arrested last week.

“I’m stunned by what’s going on,” William Kaiaokamalie-Neizman said, recalling what happened after 5 a.m. Dec. 14.

Judge Blaine Kobayashi found there was sufficient evidence for charges of seconddegree robbery, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, second-degree theft, unauthorized possession of confidential personal information, two counts of theft of a credit card and second-degree criminal property damage.

Dutro, 34, of Kihei is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail at the Maui Community Correctional Center.

Kaiaokamalie-Neizman, a 26-year-old Lahaina resident, said he was staying overnight at his girlfriend’s house in Waiehu when their wake-up alarms went off after 5 a.m. Dec. 14.

“All of a sudden, I hear my truck turn on,” he said. “I look out the window and see my truck moving. Not thinking, I jump into my girlfriend’s car.”

He saw his 2004 Dodge Dakota truck turn to go toward Sand Piles beach near the Waiehu Golf Course. He found the truck stopped in front of the beach barricade with both doors open.

Kaiaokamalie-Neizman pulled up and parked in front of his truck. He said he saw a man leaving from the driver’s side of the truck and asked what he was doing as the man walked toward Kaiaokamalie-Neizman.

After getting into the driver’s seat of his truck, Kaiaokamalie-Neizman said he realized there was another man in the passenger seat. “I told him to get out. He wasn’t listening.”

So Kaiaokamalie-Neizman said he got out of his truck and went to open the passenger door to remove the man from the truck.

That’s when the man identified as Dutro “reached over through the driver’s door and yanked me from the passenger door through the driver’s door” and out of the truck, Kaiaokamalie-Neizman said.

He said the truck went forward through a beach barricade before reversing into his girlfriend’s car. As the truck was leaving, “I grabbed my surfboard out of the back of the truck,” Kaiaokamalie-Neizman said.

In addition to the $780 surfboard, the truck had contained his toolbox, clothing, skateboard and wallet with $63 in cash, his driver’s license, health insurance and library cards and a debit and credit card, Kaiaokamalie-Neizman said.

He said his girlfriend’s Toyota Corolla had its bumpers, hood and driver’s side fender smashed, with repairs estimated at $1,500.

His wallet with his driver’s license and credit cards was found later that morning at Cove Park in Kihei.

A couple of days later, the truck was found totaled at a Kihei apartment complex, Kaiaokamalie-Neizman said.

Dutro is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 23 in 2nd Circuit Court. He was ordered to stay away from the victim and his girlfriend’s residence, as well as Sand Piles beach.

In another pending case, Dutro is charged with four counts of first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, three counts of second-degree theft, fourth-degree theft, unauthorized possession of confidential personal information, two counts of theft of a credit card, third-degree criminal property damage and three counts of fourth-degree criminal property damage.

He was arrested in that case for allegedly breaking into vans at Kanaha Beach Park in Kahului in July.

According to court records, Dutro has convictions for attempted unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, three counts of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, second-degree burglary, second-degree escape, three counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, three counts of driving without a license, resisting arrest, resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle, harassment, DUI, two counts of third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and harassment.

Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.