A Volcano resident is staring down seven felony counts after prosecutors say he repeatedly failed to follow Hawaii’s covered offender registration rules. Prosecutors identify the defendant as 48-year-old Brian Taylor-Rose of Volcano, who appeared for arraignment Monday in Hilo Circuit Court. His bail stayed set at $140,000, and the judge ordered him back in court on July 1. Prosecutors allege the registration violations stretch from January 2025 through May 2026.
According to Hawaii News Now, the County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed the charges, and Taylor-Rose has prior felony convictions in Washington state for child molestation in the second and third degrees. The Hilo case was filed as an information, alleging seven separate counts of failing to comply with covered offender registration requirements. As the outlet notes, these are criminal allegations, and Taylor-Rose is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
What the law requires
Under Hawaii law, failing to comply with covered offender registration rules is a class C felony. The statute lays out a list of required steps for covered offenders, such as reporting address changes and returning periodic verification forms. The law, cited as HRS 946E-9, spells out what counts as noncompliance, and the state’s registry website explains how registrants can update or verify their information through Hawaii's covered-offender registry.
Court date and local contacts
Taylor-Rose’s bail remains at $140,000, and he has been ordered to return for further proceedings on July 1, according to Hawaii News Now. Investigators are asking anyone with information to call Investigator Kelly Lawton at (808) 961-0466 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. The Hawaii County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney lists its East Hawai‘i office at Aupuni Center, 655 Kilauea Avenue in Hilo.
Legal context
A conviction for failing to comply with covered offender registration requirements is a felony that can carry a maximum five-year prison sentence. Many class C felonies in Hawaii are also eligible for probation and shorter county jail terms, depending on the facts of the case and the defendant’s history. The Hawaii Revised Statutes, along with local sentencing practices, set those ranges, and prior out-of-state convictions can play a role in both charging decisions and potential sentencing. For now, the case remains at the allegation stage, and Taylor-Rose is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
