Bail reduced for defendants accused of having drugs and firearm components

WAILUKU — Bail was reduced for a man and two women who were arrested last week when police seized drugs and firearm components at a Kihei residence.

The prosecution asked for the lower bail amounts based on amended charges for Kaelan Starmer, 29, Alison Hethcote, 59, and Kailani Rush, 26, when they made initial appearances Tuesday in Wailuku District Court.

The three were each charged with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, three counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, two counts of fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug, possessing drug paraphernalia and possessing a switchblade knife.

Starmer also was charged with two counts of manufacturing, purchasing or obtaining firearm parts to assemble a firearm having no serial number.

“Due to the large amount and variety of drugs recovered in this case, to include the extremely dangerous drug fentanyl,” the defendants pose a significant danger to the community, Deputy Prosecutor Peter Hanano said in court.

He noted that all three could face 20 years or more in prison if convicted as charged in the case.

Police Crime Reduction Unit and Special Response Team officers executed search warrants Thursday at the residence on East Waipuilani Road and reported recovering more than 60 grams of heroin, 3.2 grams of methamphetamine, 3.5 grams of methadone powder, 2.7 grams of fentanyl and over 150 methadone-type pills, Hanano said.

He said police also recovered a complete self-manufactured AR-Platform receiver with no serial number and a self-manufactured lower receiver pistol kit, as well as a 3D printer and other items related to the manufacture of the firearms.

Such self-manufactured guns are known as ghost guns.

Hanano asked for bail to be reduced from $252,250 set by police to $150,000 for Starmer. His history of not showing up for court is reflected in 21 convictions for contempt of court and two for failure to appear, Hanano said. He said Starmer also has convictions for DUI, driving without a license and resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle.

Hanano asked for bail for Rush and Hethcote to be reduced to $100,000 from the $185,000 set by police.

Rush has prior convictions for failure to appear, two counts of contempt of court and fourth-degree theft, Hanano said.

With no opposition by the defense, judges set the lower bail amounts for the defendants Tuesday.