Judge released man accused of traffic and firearm crimes

A 23-year-old Hilo man is back on the street early Wednesday morning, arrested for what prosecutors described as “extremely drunk” driving and allegedly carrying a stolen handgun loaded with illegal high-capacity magazines.

Hilo County Judge Jeffrey Hawk granted Kiane Asuncion-Wilson probation (a form of cashless bail) on Friday over the objection of prosecutors.

According to District Attorney Kelden Waltjen, Asuncion-Wilson was taken into custody following a traffic stop in Hilo. Police pulled Wilson over after reporting a reckless driver in a lifted Toyota Tacoma on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway was overtaking people at a high rate of speed and heading into oncoming traffic.

Asuncion-Wilson’s blood alcohol content was 0.163, more than twice the legal threshold for drunken driving, Waltjen said.

Officers executed a search warrant on Asuncion-Wilson’s vehicle and reportedly seized a Smith &Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol with an illegal high-capacity magazine, a second high-capacity magazine, 25 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and two spent 9mm casings.

A National Crime Information Center check of the firearm revealed that the Tacoma Police Department in Washington had reported the gun stolen in 2013, according to police.

Asuncion-Wilson was charged with drunken driving, driving without a license and three firearms-related offenses.

Bail was originally set at $73,200.

The most serious of the firearm crimes, unlawful possession of a handgun or handgun is a Class B misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison upon conviction.

Asuncion-Wilson also has an active case for speeding, speeding 51 miles per hour or more, and driving without a license due to the Oct. 23 traffic stop.

Hawk ordered Asuncion-Wilson to return to court for a status hearing on Dec. 19.

Email John Burnett at [email protected].