County of Hawai'i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney

County of Hawai'i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney The official page of County of Hawai'i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen.

The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney is the legal agency responsible for prosecuting all violations of State and County laws, ordinances, rules, and/or regulations on behalf of the Hawai'i Island community as provided by Hawai‘i County Charter Article IX: Chapter 28; H.R.S. 28-1.

Welcome to three of the newest members of our Office of the Prosecuting Attorney ‘ohana, from left to right, Victim/Witn...
09/12/2026

Welcome to three of the newest members of our Office of the Prosecuting Attorney ‘ohana, from left to right, Victim/Witness Counselor Jasmin Respicio, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Amy Smith, and Law Clerk James Ferguson.

If you are interested in joining our Office ‘ohana or have any questions regarding any of our current vacancies, please contact us at (808) 961-0466.

Amanda Leonard, Coordinator of the Missing Child Center-Hawaiʻi (“MCCH”) and Statewide MAILE AMBER Alert, Department of ...
09/12/2026

Amanda Leonard, Coordinator of the Missing Child Center-Hawaiʻi (“MCCH”) and Statewide MAILE AMBER Alert, Department of the Attorney General, was selected by the Hawai‘i Police Department’s 105th Police Recruit Class members to provide the keynote address during their graduation ceremony on Wednesday.

As the MCCH Coordinator, Leonard oversees the statewide program and actively assists county, state, federal, and military law enforcement to locate, recover, and protect missing and abducted children. She also provides training on missing children response and awareness to police recruits across the state.

Fun fact: Leonard and Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen were classmates at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

From left to right, Department of Human Services Assistant Program Administrator Florence Calderon, Prosecutor Waltjen, Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda, and Leonard.

Today, we honor and remember the innocent victims, first responders, emergency workers, military personnel, and civilian...
09/11/2026

Today, we honor and remember the innocent victims, first responders, emergency workers, military personnel, and civilians who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. These senseless acts of violence tore a hole in the hearts of many Americans, and the suffering of this tragedy still remains. Every year on this day, we remember the lives lost, the bravery of the heroes who served, and how we came together as one nation united in sorrow.

UPDATED STATISTICS AS OF AUGUST 31, 2026: Here is a helpful graphic to illustrate the current overcrowding situation at ...
09/10/2026

UPDATED STATISTICS AS OF AUGUST 31, 2026: Here is a helpful graphic to illustrate the current overcrowding situation at the Hawai‘i Community Correctional Center (“HCCC”) in Hilo. HCCC is the primary correctional facility on Hawai‘i Island where most pre-trial and sentenced felons are housed. There is no correctional facility located on the westside of the island requiring daily transports for court hearings.

HCCC’s current headcount is 311. The HCCC headcount has been drastically reduced since the COVID-19 Pandemic. The HCCC headcount was 485 on August 31, 2017, 419 on September 30, 2019, 396 on January 31, 2020, and 234 on April 30, 2020.

“Our Office shares in our community’s concern regarding the unwarranted release of individuals facing serious felony charges,” said Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen. “Nevertheless, judges often times refer to HCCC’s overcrowding as the basis to release offenders over prosecutors’ objections. This practice does not promote trust and confidence in our criminal justice system, instead creating doubts, fear, and concerns for public safety. Hawai‘i Island is in dire need of new and improved correctional facilities with the infrastructure to both house serious offenders and accommodate rehabilitative care and treatment, social services, cultural education, and reintegration assistance for incarcerated individuals to reduce recidivism and promote public safety.”

According to the State of Hawai‘i, Department of Public Safety’s website, HCCC is a 226-bed facility located on two sites. The primary facility is situated on three acres in downtown Hilo. HCCC’s reintegration program, Hale Nani, is located five miles away in Panaewa.

For more information on HCCC, the Corrections Division, and our State’s other correctional facilities, please visit: https://dps.hawaii.gov/about/divisions/corrections/.

Congratulations to the Hawai‘i Police Department’s 105th Police Recruit Class who were recognized at a ceremony this mor...
09/10/2026

Congratulations to the Hawai‘i Police Department’s 105th Police Recruit Class who were recognized at a ceremony this morning at the Grand Naniloa Hotel’s Crown Room. Mahalo to you and your ‘ohana for your service and commitment to our Hawai‘i Island community. Mahalo to HPD’s Training Staff, Sgt. Tyler Jelsma and Officers Ben Den Toro, Wayne Kenison, and Paul Wright for their time and dedication to our new officers.

Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that 39-year-old Jeremy A. Fleming of Hilo was arrested and charged follow...
09/09/2026

Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that 39-year-old Jeremy A. Fleming of Hilo was arrested and charged following a fatal traffic collision which resulted in the death of 55-year-old William Simao of Hilo and critically injured 35-year-old Perry Keohuloa also of Hilo, near the 46 mile marker on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway on September 5, 2026. According to police reports, Fleming, who was operating a 2023 Tesla sedan and attempting to overtake multiple vehicles in heavy fog and low visibility conditions collided head on with a 2020 Harley Davidson, being operated by Simao. The Tesla also impacted a motorcycle operated by Keohuloa. A fourth vehicle, a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck, also sustained damage after being struck by debris from the collision. Simao was pronounced dead at the scene and Keohuloa was flown to the Queen’s Medical Center on O‘ahu with life threatening injuries.

Fleming made his initial appearance in Kona District Court on Tuesday morning. The District Court judge reduced Fleming’s bail from $400,000 to $300,000 and he was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on September 9, 2026.

As the Complaint alleges, Fleming is charged with Manslaughter (recklessly cause the death of another person), Negligent Homicide in the Second Degree (causing the death of another person by the operation of a motor vehicle in a negligent manner), and Negligent Injury in the First Degree (causing serious bodily to another person by the operation of a vehicle in a negligent manner). The most serious offense, Manslaughter, is a class A felony offense and carries a maximum penalty of a twenty-year prison term. Negligent Homicide in the Second Degree and Negligent Injury in the First Degree are both class C felony offenses and carry a maximum penalty of a five-year prison term.

The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The felony investigation was led by Officer Adam Roberg, Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Woodward.

The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney remains dedicated to the pursuit of justice with integrity and commitment. Anyone having information to assist local law enforcement should call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that 32-year-old Joseph Kekedi, Jr. of Puna has been indicted by a Hilo gr...
09/09/2026

Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that 32-year-old Joseph Kekedi, Jr. of Puna has been indicted by a Hilo grand jury in connection with incidents that occurred between August 21, 2026 and August 28, 2026 at a residence on Pahoa Kapoho Road. According to police reports, Kekedi was arrested on August 28, 2026 after police officers responded to a domestic incident involving a firearm. Following the ex*****on of a residential search warrant, police recovered five fi****ms, including a DPMS AR-15 style rifle, a Sturm R***r .223 caliber rifle, a Titan Tiger .38 caliber revolver, a Re*****on 12 gauge shotgun, and a Wi******er 12 gauge shotgun. Kekidi made his initial appearance in Hilo District Court on August 31, 2026.

On Tuesday afternoon, Kekidi appeared in Hilo Circuit Court for his return on the grand jury Indictment warrant. The Circuit Court denied Kekedi’s request for supervised release, maintained bail at $472,000 and scheduled a further proceedings hearing on November 10, 2026.

As the Indictment alleges, Kekedi is charged with nineteen offenses, two counts of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree, three counts of misdemeanor Abuse of a Family or Household Member, Felony Abuse of a Family or Household Member, Assault in the Second Degree, Reckless Endangering in the First Degree, six counts of Permit to Acquire, four counts of Registration Mandatory, and Ownership Prohibited.

The most serious offense, Sexual Assault in the Second Degree, is a class B felony offense and carries a maximum penalty of a ten-year prison term. Felony Abuse of a Family or a Household Member and Ownership Prohibited are both class C felony offenses and carry a maximum penalty of a five-year prison term.

The charges are merely allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The initial arrest was made by Officer Rodney DeLima, Puna Patrol. The felony investigation was led by Detective Jenny Lee, Area I Juvenile Aid Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ha‘aheo Kaho‘ohalahala.

The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney remains dedicated to the pursuit of justice with integrity and commitment. Anyone having information to assist local law enforcement should call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney was honored to partner with Kumukahi Health and Wellness, UnitedHealthcare, and t...
08/29/2026

The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney was honored to partner with Kumukahi Health and Wellness, UnitedHealthcare, and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“Hawai‘i Community Correctional Center”) to coordinate and sponsor the Big Island Reentry Networking Fair on Thursday, August 27, 2026 at Aunty Sally Kaleohano’s Lūʻau Hale in Hilo.

The fair provided an opportunity for government agencies, non-profits, service providers, and community stakeholders to meet, greet, network and learn about the services that each organization provides in hopes of identifying gaps, areas for collaboration, and proposing solutions to addressing challenges affecting the successful reentry of justice involved individuals on Hawai‘i Island, decreasing recidivism, and promoting public safety.

Mahalo to all the participants, volunteers, and sponsors who made this special event possible. Special mahalo to CEO Tui Silva, Kokua Services Director Rachelle Hanohano and the Kumukahi team, Lisa Jobes, Polet Rincon, and HCCC, and Rodney Powell and UnitedHealthcare.

Welcome to one of the newest members of our Office of the Prosecuting Attorney ‘ohana, Legal Clerk Jessica Jamero (left)...
08/29/2026

Welcome to one of the newest members of our Office of the Prosecuting Attorney ‘ohana, Legal Clerk Jessica Jamero (left), who is pictured here with her supervisor, Supervising Legal Clerk Yvonne Shea.

If you are interested in joining our Office ‘ohana or have any questions regarding any of our current vacancies, please contact us at (808) 961-0466.

Address

655 Kilauea Avenue
Hilo, HI
96720

Opening Hours

Monday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Thursday 7:45am - 4:30pm
Friday 7:45am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18089610466

Website

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