Five of the co-defendants who were indicted and arrested along with former Kamaaina Termite owner Michael J. Miske, Jr., remain to face trial. Seven others have already flipped, pleaded guilty, and are now cooperating with prosecutors.

Court records show Miske’s alleged crew often wore masks to conceal their identities, and masks were later found in several of their cars when searched by police.

Clown masks. Ski masks. Skull masks.

The clown masks were part of this next little story.

The defendant I’ve known the least about is Jarrin Young. His attorney, William Shipley, has filed repeated motions seeking his release on bond pending trial, all of which have been unsuccessful.

Earlier this year, Shipley submitted a notice of appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, but failed to meet the deadline for filing the appeal, which was then denied by the court.

Young, now 29, was only about 22 when he allegedly became a participant in Miske’s drug network, sometimes referred to by others with more experience as the “boy” who ran errands for them.

Federal prosecutors have described a number of drug transactions Young took part in, but also pointed to other more violent encounters.

In a recent memo, they referenced an armed robbery in 2016 that was prosecuted in state court.

This week, I went back to court and read through the court file.

Here is the “case background” section describing the robbery, written later by the HPD officer who was assigned when the robbery victim spotted Young entering The District nightclub about three weeks later.

I’be chosen not to name the victim because he does not appear to have a criminal record, although federal prosecutors said in a court filing they believed he was a marijuana dealer, and that a quarter-pound of marijuana and an iPhone were taken in the robbery.

From the officer’s report:

Upon arrival I met with the caller Eric [redacted] who stated on 9-13-16 he initiated a Robbery 1st case under report number 16-365194 and was told by the assigned Detective to call police if he sees the suspect again.

Eric [redacted] related on 9-12-16 at about 2330 hours his former friend and business associate Jarrin YOUNG called his phone and asked him to meet at the triangle park off Round Top Drive. Upon exiting his vehicle YOUNG asked him if he was alone. After telling YOUNG yes, three (3) males wearing clown masks exited YOUNG’S vehicle. The two males from the front seats exited and pointed silver pistol handguns at him. Jarrin YOUNG then stated to [redacted] “Where’s the money?”

[Redacted]then stated that he was struck with a hard metal object to the right cheek area of his face causing pain and blood.

[Redacted] stated that he was able to get away and ran down the street and hid until YOUNG and the masked men left the area in YOUNG’S vehicle.

[Redacted] stated that he can identify YOUNG if seen again and is willing to prosecute.

The three men wearing clown masks have not been identified.

The victim saw Young entering The District night club shortly before 2 a.m. on October 1, 2016. Two HPD officers located Young standing near the main bar and escorted him outside, where he was positively identied by the victim.

He was arrested for 1st degree robbery, which was reduced to Robbery 2. Young later entered a “no contest” plea to the charges, and was sentenced in June 2018 to four years of probation.

He was arrested on federal charges in the Miske case in July 2020, and has been held at the federal detention center in Honolulu since that time.