WAILUKU — A man allegedly broke the passenger-side window to steal a purse from a vehicle before a chase that ended in a crash that killed the police chief’s secretary Terry Jones, a deputy prosecutor said.

Robert “Bobby” Nelson, 28, who gave no local address, and Jesseelee Decoite, 37, of Pukalani were each charged with first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, second-degree theft, unauthorized possession of confidential personal information, fourth-degree criminal property damage and habitual property crime in connection with the break-in Feb. 24.

In the early morning that day, Nelson and Decoite were driving along Kula Highway when they pulled over near Jones’ vehicle that was parked on the side of the road, Deputy Prosecutor Joshua Kent said during the defendants’ initial appearances Tuesday in Wailuku District Court.

Kent said it was alleged that Decoite remained in the vehicle while Nelson got out and broke the passenger-side window of Jones’ vehicle. When Nelson discovered Jones was in the driver’s seat, he allegedly grabbed her purse from the passenger seat, ran back to the vehicle that Decoite was driving and they fled down Kula Highway, Kent said.

He said some items from Jones’ purse, including her Maui County identification, were later recovered.

Police said the location of the break-in and theft was about 100 yards north of Omaopio Road on the makai side of Kula Highway. Jones was pursuing the thief when she lost control and her 2018 Honda Pilot hit a large tree about 3 miles away at the intersection of Haleakala Highway at 4:40 a.m., police said.

Police said Jones, a 55-year-old Makawao resident who had been a Maui Police Department employee for more than 30 years, died at the scene of the crash.

In court Tuesday, Kent asked for bail to be increased from $10,000 to $25,000 for Decoite, who is on probation for attempted second-degree burglary, second-degree criminal property damage, second-degree theft and felony abuse. Before the crash, Decoite has been facing revocation of his probation for allegedly failing to refrain from alcohol and drug use and failing to complete anger management treatment, Kent said.

He said Decoite was charged as both a habitual and repeat offender and could face a mandatory prison term of one year and eight months if convicted.

“The state feels the defendant presents a danger to the community,” Kent said.

Deputy Public Defender Andres Tobar asked for bail to be reduced or for Decoite to be released on supervision. Decoite was “very cooperative” with police and has a residence, stable job and son he provides for, Tobar said.

Judge Blaine Kobayashi kept bail at $10,000 for Decoite.

Kent asked for bail to be increased from $90,000 to $375,000 for Nelson, who faces additional charges in four other cases.

He was charged with first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, fourth-degree theft, fourth-degree criminal property damage and habitual property crime after he was seen using a rock to break into a vehicle in the parking lot of Casanova Italian Restaurant at 1170 Makawao Ave. on March 5.

Items were taken from the vehicle before Nelson fled, Kent said.

In another case, Nelson is charged with first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, second-degree theft, two counts of habitual property crime and fourth-degree theft.

Between March 17 and 18, Nelson allegedly stole a white Nissan Frontier that had been parked at Kahului Airport as a Turo rental when the renters discovered it wasn’t there, Kent said. He said the Frontier’s license plates were swapped with license plates stolen from a similar vehicle between March 17 to 24.

Nelson was seen driving away in the stolen Frontier with the other vehicle’s license plates on March 24 after he allegedly shattered windows to break into two vehicles in the Casanova parking lot, Kent said. He said Nelson was confronted by one victim who had returned to a vehicle while Nelson was stealing items from the car.

Nelson was charged with first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, two counts of first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, second-degree theft, credit card theft, fourth-degree theft, two counts of fourth-degree criminal property damage and habitual property crime in that case.

He was arrested March 30 when he was caught breaking windows to enter two vehicles in the Casanova parking lot while again driving the stolen Frontier, Kent said.

“The defendant’s criminal history is extensive,” Kent said, noting Nelson has convictions for 22 felony crimes, seven misdemeanor offenses and 11 petty misdemeanors.

Nelson is on probation in nine felony cases and was released from jail Dec. 6, Kent said.

He said Nelson is charged as a habitual, repeat and persistent offender and could face mandatory minimum sentencing.

Nelson had entered the Maui Drug Court program of treatment and supervision before his participation was terminated in the nine felony cases.

Based on the latest allegations, including two cases where Nelson was confronted by victims, “he poses a danger to the community,” Kent said.

Tobar asked for bail to be reduced or remain the same. “All of these crimes are property crimes,” he said.

Judge Chris Dunn increased Nelson’s bail to $50,000 in each case for a total of $250,000.

Nelson was ordered to stay away from victims in the cases and from the parking lots of Casanova and Kahului Airport, as well as the Hanakai Street parking lot where the license plate was stolen.

Nelson and Decoite were ordered to have no contact with each other.

Both defendants also were ordered not to possess or consume alcohol or illegal drugs and to report for supervision and random drug testing if released on bail.

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