A 46-year-old 'Aiea man was charged yesterday for allegedly stealing a 2003 Ford flatbed pickup truck, breaking into two other trucks and causing major damage to a front chain-link fence and gate of a construction company yard in Mapunapuna.

Joseph John Piekanski was being held in lieu of $100,000 with a preliminary hearing scheduled for tomorrow. According to the Honolulu prosecuting attorney's office, Piekanski also has a pending trial for auto theft, firearm and drug offenses.

Piekanski was sentenced to 20 years in prison in December 1984 for manslaughter and has 12 total convictions dating to 1978 for offenses including auto theft, possession of firearms, escape and burglary, according to state records.

On Monday morning someone stole a flatbed truck from Road Builders Corp. on 'Awa'awaloa Street and apparently drove through a fence at the business, according to a police affidavit filed at District Court.

Items taken from two other trucks at the yard included an automatic paver system, roll of new chain-link fencing and tools valued at more than $17,000.

Piekanski was arrested after a security officer at another Mapunapuna location on Kilihau Street reported a man in a truck dragging a chain-link fence.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.