HONOLULU — U.S. Marshalls will pay for one of the five Kaua‘i residents arrested in relation to a $5.9 million pot bust to return home, a federal judge decided yesterday. Defendant Melissa Bihm was handed over to federal authorities for
HONOLULU — U.S. Marshalls will pay for one of the five Kaua‘i residents arrested in relation to a $5.9 million pot bust to return home, a federal judge decided yesterday.
Defendant Melissa Bihm was handed over to federal authorities for processing after Judge Leslie Kobayashi determined the defendant’s one-way airfare back to Kaua‘i would be granted, at her morning detention hearing in federal court.
Melissa Bihm, Edward H. Holland, Robert Bihm, Ryan Bihm and Mark Darling have been in custody for roughly one week after being charged with cultivating 1,000 or more marijuana plants, a Schedule I controlled substance.
Authorities said that the 6,000 marijuana plants they seized from the massive growing operation allegedly organized by the five defendants was at the end of Kuamo‘o Road and at the foot of Mount Wai‘ale‘ale.
Law enforcement monitored the area from November 2006 through last month, according to the affidavit filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The five Kaua‘i residents were arrested Aug. 31 on felony charges stemming from that investigation, which involved the Kaua‘i Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Melissa Bihm was ordered to be released to her home in Princeville on an unsecured bond of $50,000, however, part of the condition of her release was that she seek employment, forfeit her passport and restrict travel to within the state.
The remaining four accused in the case, which includes a father and two sons, will not be permitted to leave O‘ahu before their upcoming court dates.
All five were granted the possibility of posting unsecured bond for $50,000 under specified conditions, with the exception of Edward Holland, who Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Kawahara said is allegedly the “ring leader” in the case.
The conditional release for Robert Bihm will include a psychiatric evaluation and residence at Mahoney Hale, an O‘ahu halfway house, where he will undergo random drug and alcohol detection testing, as use of both were restricted by Kobayashi.
Ryan Bihm was ordered to obtain a verifiable O‘ahu residence, as well as maintain vocational training and submit to random drug testing before being released.
• Amanda C. Gregg, assistant editor/staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or agregg@kauaipubco.com.
