Suspect in federal custody in connection with IED near Kahului Elementary
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By Ryan Mitchel Collins
Managing Editor of The Maui News
WAILUKU - According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Robert Francis Dumaran, age 47, of Kahului, Maui, made his initial appearance in United States District Court today before United States Magistrate Judge Kenneth J. Mansfield, following his arrest Saturday at 6:32 p.m. in Maui pursuant to a criminal complaint for possessing an unregistered destructive device and attempting to damage property by means of explosives.
Robert Francis Dumaran (47) was arrested on Aug. 10 on a federal warrant according to the Maui Police Department booking log in Wailuku. Courtesy photo
A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 27. Dumaran was detained without bail. The complaint and affidavit allege that on July 23, 2024, Maui Police Department ("MPD") officers encountered an improvised explosive device ("IED") near Lono Avenue in Kahului. The IED was in the roadway by Kahului Elementary School.
The IED contained explosive powder, a battery, and shrapnel. Dumaran's fingerprints were recovered from packing tape used to build the IED.
If indicted and convicted of the charged offenses, the defendant would face up to ten years in prison on the unregistered destructive device charge and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to 20 years on the explosives charge.
The charges and information contained in the federal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until indicted and proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The affidavit also mentions the recovery of detonated IEDs near Kaamana Street in Kula on Aug. 7, and the explosion of an IED and resulting damage to a car in Pukalani on Aug. 8.
The complaint does not charge Dumaran in connection with either of these events. The FBI and Maui County Police Department conducted the investigation resulting in the complaint and arrest, and the investigation into these matters remains ongoing. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne Myers and Jonathan Slack, according to the DOJ.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation told The Maui News via email Monday, "The FBI does not provide updates on active investigations. This would include describing investigative steps we may or may not have taken, interviews we may or may not have conducted, and information we may or may not have learned. To preserve the integrity and capabilities of the investigation, at this time, we cannot share details of the ongoing process. As in any given matter, if charges are filed, they will eventually become a matter of public record."
According to the MPD booking log, Dumaran was arrested at 6:32 p.m. on Aug. 10 by an officer from the MPD. No bail has been set as Dumaran is being held on a federal warrant in Oahu on the IED charge relating to the July 23 incident in Kahului.
According to Maui County Deputy Prosecutor Ronson Ibarra, Dumaran was out on a $100,000 bail bond posted in a 2019 case in Wailuku Second Circuit Court for three felony charges. Dumaran was charged with felony charges of attempted promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree, felony possession of one-eighth ounce or more of methamphetamine, felony ownership or possession prohibited by felon. Dumaran is due in the Wailuku Second Circuit court on Aug. 15 for a hearing on Dumaran’s motion to compel, suppress evidence, and dismiss. His attorney in the 2019 case is Brandon Segal of Segal Law located in Wailuku.
Segal is also representing Dumaran in a 2020 case where he was charged with six felony charges and eight misdemeanors in November of 2020. According to court documents, Dumaran plead not guilty to all 14 counts in December of 2020 and was released on a reduced bail of $100,000 for those charges in February of 2022. The charges for the 2020 case include felony promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree, three counts of prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia, felony promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree, prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia, felony attempted promoting a dangerous drug in the first degree, felony promoting a drug in the second degree, ownership or possession prohibited (by felon), possession of prohibited pistol magazine, felony attempted promoting a detrimental drug in the second degree, felony promoting a a detrimental drug in the second degree, felony promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree, prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia, promoting a harmful drug in the fourth degree.
Dumaran is due in Second Circuit Court for the charges in the 2020 case for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 26.