MEDIA RELEASE

County Prosecuting Attorney Charlene Iboshi announces that John Albert Wagner Jr. has been convicted of methamphetamine trafficking in the first degree and two counts of prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia.

On Sept. 13, 2012, a jury returned a verdict of guilty as charged in this case. Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for 8 a.m. Nov. 16 before Judge Elizabeth A. Strance.

On Dec. 23, 2010, county police Area II Vice Section, led by Officer Erich Jackson, executed a search warrant upon the home of the defendant in Kailua-Kona. Recovered from the bedroom of the defendant was 45.46 grams of methamphetamine, various forms of drug paraphernalia including a scale and more than $11,700 in U.S. currency.

At the time, Wagner was on parole for approximately five months for the offenses of methamphetamine trafficking and promoting a dangerous drug in the second degree.

One of the ways methamphetamine trafficking in the first degree occurs is when a person possesses 1 ounce or more of methamphetamine. Conviction for this crime subjects a person to imprisonment for 20 years with a mandatory term of incarceration between two and eight years. Upon a second conviction for the offense, the mandatory term of incarceration increases to a range between six years, eight months and 13 years, four months.

Each count of prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia exposes the defendant to five years in prison. The defendant faces a maximum term of incarceration of 30 years, if all charges are run consecutively, in addition to any time he faces regarding his prior case.

Anyone having information concerning drug trafficking is encouraged to call the Ice Hotline at 329-0432 or 934-8423, or Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 or 961-8300.