Men arrested asleep at the wheel of hot car, with hot jewelry - Maui News
Two men were arrested last week when they were found in a stolen car with rings stolen from jewelry stores in Lahaina and Wailea, police said.
Derik Sterling, 37, who gave no local address, was charged with two counts of first-degree theft. His bail was set at $40,000.
Joseph Scott, 28, of Makawao was charged with first-degree theft, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and second-degree theft. His bail was set at $20,000.
The two were arrested Wednesday after police responded to a report that a stolen white 1998 Dodge Neon was parked on the makai side of Honoapiilani Highway near Mile Marker 14. Scott was asleep in the driver’s seat and Sterling was asleep in the passenger seat, according to a declaration filed in court to support charges against Scott and Sterling.
In a backpack found in the car, police recovered 10 of 16 rings stolen by two men Dec. 19 from Whalers Fine Jewelry at 2435 Kaanapali Parkway in Lahaina, according to the declaration. The rings were valued at more than $41,000.
Police identified Sterling, who is also known as Kyle William Osborn, as the man who stole two emerald rings from Greenleaf Diamond Store in the Shops at Wailea at about noon Dec. 15, according to the declaration. A sales clerk was helping another customer after placing rings on a display board to show them to Sterling when he left the store with two of the rings, according to the declaration. The two rings were valued at $187,000.
Kihei patrol officers followed up at the shopping center and obtained the license plate number of the car the suspect left in, police said.
The car was reported stolen Dec. 18 when the owner’s brother, who had been allowed to use the vehicle, asked police to help in locating the car. The brother had allowed his son to use the car, and the son had loaned the car to a friend, later identified as Sterling, according to the declaration.
According to court records, Sterling was placed on four years’ probation when he was sentenced in October for multiple counts of theft and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in three cases.
In addition to the first-degree theft charges, Sterling was arrested on three contempt-of-court warrants with bail totaling $30,000.
