Puna man charged with habitual DUI after prior Washington convictions

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Puna man was arrested and charged after he was found passed out in his car with a breath alcohol concentration nearly three times the legal limit, prosecutors said.

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The Hawaii County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney said police were responding to a welfare check when they found Joshua Delmar Randall, 35, passed out in the driver’s seat near the intersection of Ainaloa Boulevard and Stardust Drive.

Police said they saw smoke coming from the vehicle’s engine bay.

Court documents said police observed Randall with heavily slurred speech, red bloodshot, watery and glassy eyes and he emitted a strong odor of alcohol.

Randall later provided a breath sample that showed an alcohol concentration of 0.223.

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Randall was charged with:

Prosecutors said the habitual OVUII charge stems from two previous convictions in Washington and carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Prosecutors also allege Randall was a “highly intoxicated driver,” with a breath alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher. That allegation elevates the offense from a Class C to a Class B offense.

Randall made his initial court appearance in Hilo Monday afternoon.

The judge denied Randall’s request for supervised release, and bail was maintained at $51,000.

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Randall is due back in court Thursday.