Two charged with felony animal cruelty in Maui pig theft case

Two men have been charged with felony animal cruelty and other offenses arising from their alleged involvement in the killing and theft of “Eddie,” a beloved pet pig, from Kitty Charm Farm, a Haʻikū animal sanctuary on May 11.

The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney charged Jayden Jarnesky Magana, 18, of Wailuku, and Krys-Ryan Saito Carino, 20, of Waiehu, July 19 with the offenses of cruelty to animals in the first degree, theft of livestock and criminal property damage in the fourth degree, according to the prosecutors office and Maui police.

Both defendants were arrested and posted bond, Chief Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin said. Bail was set at $5,000.

The cruelty to animals and theft of livestock charges are felonies, he said.

According to online court records, Jarnesky-Magana is scheduled for arraignment Aug. 6.

Saito Carino was arraigned today, pleading not guilty before 2nd Circuit Judge Peter Cahill. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Sept. 23, and a jury trial is set for Nov. 24.

Arraignment is pending in 2nd Circuit Court. Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

According to an earlier report, the pet pig was featured in a faked Instagram video of the men “hunting” it, then killing and gutting it. The 250-pound deceased animal was entered into a Makawao feral pig hunting contest, winning first place and $1,000 cash prize, according to social media posts.

Eddie the pig was reportedly friendly and had been trained to “love kids, bark like a dog and shake hands.”

The Maui Humane Society encourages the community to report suspected animal cruelty by calling 808-877-3680, ext. 222. Available 24/7.