WAILUKU — A $500,000 warrant has been issued for a Las Vegas man who failed to show up in court Thursday, just days after being extradited to Maui to face a felony drunken-driving charge.

That and other charges against Marcel Mirassou, 43, date to his October 2007 arrest. He didn't show up for a Wailuku District Court preliminary hearing in November 2007, deputy prosecutor Robert Rivera said at Mirassou's arraignment Tues--day in 2nd Circuit Court.

A March 15 trial has been set for Mirassou, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of habitually driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while his license was suspended and not having insurance.

On Tuesday, with Mirassou being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at Maui Community Correctional Center, 2nd Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza ordered the defendant to return to court Thursday for a bail hearing. Cardoza also ordered Mirassou not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs and not operate a motor vehicle unless he is properly licensed. He also was ordered to report for supervision and random drug testing.

In court Thursday, Mirassou's attorney, David Sereno, said the defendant tried to report for supervision Wednesday after his family posted bail. But Sereno said Mirassou was told the necessary paperwork wasn't there for him.

Because Mirassou didn't have identification, he was having trouble finding a place to stay, Sereno said. Sereno said he had booked a Thursday night flight to Las Vegas for Mirassou, who was hoping to return there in time for Christmas.

While Sereno asked that Mirassou be allowed to return to Las Vegas while awaiting the March trial, deputy prosecutor Cody Minatodani requested a no-bail warrant for Mirassou.

"What's going to happen if he gets in the car, gets behind the wheel and kills somebody?" she asked.

Cardoza ordered the $500,000 arrest warrant.

Minatodani said Mirassou has four prior drunken-driving convictions on Maui, as well as two convictions each for contempt of court and failure to appear.

On Dec. 1, he was arrested in Nevada for alleged felony drunken driving as a third offense, and having an open container in a vehicle, Minatodani said. Mirassou has more than 10 convictions for controlled substances, plus convictions for forgery and false identification to a peace officer. Minatodani said he has two lifetime revocations of his driver's license.

"He's of the Mirassou wine family," she said. "He has deep resources. This bail obviously means nothing for him."

Sereno said the Nevada felony charge was either dismissed or hadn't been filed, leaving only the Maui case pending for Mirassou.