LIHUE– A Fifth Circuit jury found a Kapaa woman guilty Wednesday of possessing crystal methamphetamine after high-speed chase. Jennifer Carvalho, 33, of Lihue, was found guilty after the 3-day trial of one count of promoting a dangerous drug in the
LIHUE– A Fifth Circuit jury found a Kapaa woman guilty Wednesday of possessing crystal methamphetamine after high-speed chase.
Jennifer Carvalho, 33, of Lihue, was found guilty after the 3-day trial of one count of promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree and two counts of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, class C felonies.
Carvalho was acquitted of three other charges and the jury could not agree on a verdict for one charge.
Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar praised Kauai Police Officer Brad Candido, who testified in the trial and Deputy Prosecutor Joanne Sheng, who won her first jury trial.
“Constructive possession cases are difficult to prove and she was going against a seasoned and capable defense attorney,” she said.
During the trial, the State put on evidence showing that Carvalho possessed the drug items, which police recovered following a high speed chase occurring on December 3, 2015.
During closing arguments, Deputy Prosecutor Joanne Sheng told the jurors the officers did a great job the night of high-speed chase.
“That night, they did what they do best: stop these people and get more methamphetamine off the streets,” Sheng said. “Not only that, through their thorough investigation, they gathered enough evidence so that the community can hold them accountable.”
Carvalho was previously convicted of promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree in 2006 and is pending sentencing in another case in which she entered a no contest plea to another charge of methamphetamine possession.
Carvalho will be sentenced on December 8 and faces up to thirty years in prison.
