Attorney Gerard Jervis, who is accused of chasing a group of high school boys in his car after they allegedly threw eggs at his Lanikai house last weekend, made his initial court appearance yesterday and had a preliminary hearing set for April 3.

Jervis wore a dark gray suit and a black-and-white print tie for his appearance before District Judge Russel S. Nagata, who told Jervis that anything he said could be used against him. "So watch what you say," Nagata said.

Jervis, a former Bishop Estate trustee, made no statements as he occasionally stood with his left hand behind his back.

He has been charged with first-degree criminal property damage and is free on $40,000 bail.

Nagata granted a motion to allow the defense team to inspect the white sport utility vehicle the teens were riding in Friday night.

Outside court after the brief hearing, Jervis' attorney, Dan Oyasato, said Jervis is innocent and will be exonerated.

"He maintains his innocence — as he has from the beginning — and we look forward to proving that innocence when this matter is appropriately ready to be done," Oyasato said.

Jervis did not speak to reporters as his wife stood by his side.

Oyasato declined to address public sentiment about the boys and Jervis that has filled blogs, radio call-in shows, news reports and letters to the editor.

"We're not going to make any comment about the public's perception of this case at this time," Oyasato said. "This is not an appropriate venue to do that. We will, when the appropriate time is right, come forward with our defense and put forward Mr. Jervis' position on this whole matter."

Jervis, 59, and his wife were sitting in their Onekea Street yard late Friday when the egging incident occurred, said Jervis attorney Paul Cunney.

Jervis' son, Kamaka, said that an egg came within inches of Jervis' wife's head.

Cunney has acknowledged that Jervis was drinking earlier in the evening and police reported that Jervis had a blood alcohol level of .10. The legal limit is .08.

Jervis has not been charged with driving under the influence.

Police said Jervis then pursued the four 17-year-olds in his black BMW before their SUV crashed into a utility pole guywire, leaving the SUV with its front wheels in the air.

Cunney has said that Jervis then crashed into the back of the SUV.

The teenage driver of the SUV is under investigation for driving under the influence of an intoxicant, police said, and they took a sample of his blood Friday night.

The Advertiser has decided to not identify the teens because of their age. They attend Saint Louis School, where they played football.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.