LIHUE — A former homeless veteran charged with theft had his bail reduced to $200 from $20,000 Tuesday. Gerald Nash, 43, appeared before Fifth Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe and asked that his bail be reduced in three cases. All parties
LIHUE — A former homeless veteran charged with theft had his bail reduced to $200 from $20,000 Tuesday.
Gerald Nash, 43, appeared before Fifth Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe and asked that his bail be reduced in three cases. All parties agreed and the motion to reduce his bail was granted.
Nash, who has symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, was let go on supervised release as his attorney said he had a bed space waiting for him with Tripler Army Medical Center Veterans Affairs on Oahu in January.
He was originally charged with two separate counts of theft 2, a class C felony and two counts of promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree.
On Nov. 9, Nash pleaded no contest to theft 3, a misdemeanor, and no contest to one of the drug charges. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 27.
His bail was set to $15,000 in one case, but his attorney argued it should be $100, citing that Nash would be going to Tripler on Jan. 4, just weeks before his sentencing.
On other case, bail was reduced from $5,000 to $100. His other case had a bail that had already been reduced from $10,000 to $25.
The state did not object on the reduced bail.
A representative from Veterans Affairs, Todd Gordon, spoke on Nash’s behalf. He said he would be providing the necessary tools for him, such as outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Gordon urged the court to allow Nash to be released so he could work out the logistics and paperwork at an outpatient clinic in Lihue.
Gordon also said his organization provided Nash with stable HUD housing in Kalaheo and had been working with the property owner to work out a rent solution.
“When he finishes his treatment he will have place to land,” Gordon said.
Police arrested Nash on July 2014 for stealing a rented red mountain bike from Kauai Cycle Shop and charged him with second-degree theft. The bike was valued at $880, according to court records.
In another case, Nash stole another bike from a former roommate in September 2014, according to court records. The roommate saw Nash riding the $3,000 bike and noticed his lock had been cut.
On Sept. 5, 2015, a police officer saw Nash walking along Nonou Road. Nash had an active bench warrant at the time, so police conducted a search and found a stash of methamphetamine in a Ziploc bag and an Oxycodone pill in his pockets. He was charged with two counts of promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree and unlawful use of paraphernalia.
Another case where Nash was accused of stealing a bike and a bottle of Coke from a Kmart in September was dismissed with prejudice per a plea agreement with the state.
According to testimony at court on Nov. 9 by his attorney, Nash had been homeless for a long period of time after he had served as a sergeant in the Army.
While he was deployed in Afghanistan, Nash reportedly was injured in battle twice. In one occasion, he fell 100 feet in a paratrooping accident. In another, he was hit over the head with a shovel. In both incidents, he fell unconscious.
PTSD is one of the conditions he will treated for during the time he awaits trial, Gordon said.
Bails in the cases were high because Nash had missed several court dates and had been served with bench warrants.
