Kevin Enos

WAILUKU — Bail was kept at $500,000 for a man who had completed his parole for drug convictions about two months before he was arrested with cash and drugs in a Kahului parking lot last week, a deputy prosecutor said.

Kevin Enos, 55, of Kahului is charged with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and promoting a controlled substance near a school.

He was arrested Aug. 18 after police had obtained search warrants for Enos, his vehicle and his residence as part of a vice investigation, Deputy Prosecutor Joanne Hicks said during Enos’ initial appearance Monday in Wailuku District Court.

She said Enos was opening the trunk of his vehicle when police located him in the parking lot of Walmart in Kahului. Police found $4,667 in cash in his pocket, she said. 

From his vehicle, police recovered 54.47 grams of methamphetamine, as well as a digital scale, plastic bags and other drug paraphernalia, Hicks said. She said another 9.74 grams of methamphetamine was found at his residence on South Papa Avenue, which is within 50 feet of Kamaaina Kids Kahului Preschool.

Enos admitted to selling drugs to support his habit, Hicks said.

In asking that bail remain at $500,000 for Enos, she said he is a flight risk and danger to the community based in his lengthy criminal history dating to 1987 and including convictions for kidnapping, abuse, burglary, terroristic threatening and second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug. Enos also has a history of reoffending on parole, Hicks said.

“This defendant is being charged as a persistent offender,” she said. “The consequences he’s facing if convicted as charged are very dire.”

She said he could face a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole if convicted of the most serious charges.

Deputy Public Defender William Pannell requested supervised release “or much lower bail” for Enos, who said he hadn’t had any convictions in 10 years.

Judge Blaine Kobayashi set bail at $500,000, saying supervised release wasn’t appropriate based on Enos’ “significant prior criminal history and the seriousness of the facts of the instant case.”

If he posts bail to be released, Enos was ordered not to return to Walmart or his residence on South Papa Avenue. He also was ordered not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs and to report for supervision and random drug testing.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.