William Brown, a detective in the Vice Division of the Hawaiʻi County Police Department, was found guilty of a class C felony offense of perjury. The verdict was delivered after a bench trial presided over by Judge Peter K. Kubota on April 2, 2025.
Brown was convicted of making a false statement under oath during a grand jury proceeding in the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit. The statement related to his interview with a suspect in a drug-related case. The suspect had repeatedly stated that she only brought her cell phone into the vehicle. However, drugs were discovered in a black bag along with a pink stuffed animal pencil case. Despite this, Brown falsely testified that the suspect claimed to have brought both her cell phone and the pink pencil case into the vehicle.
Deputy Attorney General Albert Cook, who prosecuted the case, emphasized the importance of honesty in the legal system. "Our legal system is designed to find the truth. When witnesses lie, it undermines our legal system and perverts the quest for justice. The Department of the Attorney General is committed to protecting the integrity of the criminal justice system and will prosecute those who commit perjury," Cook stated.
Sentencing for Brown is scheduled for May 23, 2025, and he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The sentencing will also be under the jurisdiction of Judge Peter K. Kubota.