Bail increased for man charged with robbery
WAILUKU — Bail was increased to $10,000 for a Kula man who was arrested after he allegedly pushed his former girlfriend onto the road before driving away in her vehicle Tuesday morning.
Jamie Karagianes, 40, was charged with second-degree robbery.
The woman reported randomly picking up Karagianes, who was on the side of the road as she was driving to work Tuesday, Deputy Prosecutor Karen Droscoski said during Karagianes’ initial appearance Thursday in Wailuku District Court.
She said he was sitting in the back seat when they arrived at the woman’s workplace on Ahuliu Way in Kahului and they got into an argument about him using her vehicle. The woman reported being concerned and getting out of her vehicle when Karagianes moved into the driver’s seat, Droscoski said.
She said the woman opened the door and tried to hold the steering wheel before Karagianes allegedly pushed her off onto the road and drove off.
What happened was captured on business surveillance video, Droscoski said.
She said Karagianes was located and arrested later that morning.
In asking for bail to be increased from $5,000 to $10,000, Droscoski said Karagianes is facing charges of felony abuse by strangulation of the same woman in two pending cases, including one from last month.
He has convictions for possessing drug paraphernalia, two counts of habitually driving under the influence of an intoxicant, second-degree reckless endangering, two counts of fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug and three counts of DUI, Droscoski said.
Karagianes asked to be released on supervision or to have his bail lowered to $1,000 “so I can provide for my family, my children.”
“These allegations have made my life very, very difficult and they’re really not true,” he said.
Karagianes works full time and has two children, said Deputy Public Defender William Pannell.
Judge Lauren Akitake increased bail to $10,000. Karagianes was ordered not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs and to stay away from the woman, her residence and workplace.