WESTMINSTER – The owner of a Fountain Valley shop that sells African handicrafts, reggae gear, and glass pipes was in court this morning on charges of allowing a marijuana sale at his store.

Bigira Mustafa David Prince KiroKiro, known to friends as Kiro, had a pre-trial hearing in West Justice Center along with David Antonio Salinas in a case that centers on $20 and a 1.4 gram bud of marijuana.

An undercover Fountain Valley police detective went to African Corner at 16511 Brookhurst St. on Sept. 22 and asked Kiro if she could buy some “herb,” according to a search warrant.

Kiro said his “guy” would have some later, according to the warrant. When the detective came back an hour later, Kiro directed her to Salinas, who was sitting next to the front counter, telling him, “Hey, you have a customer,” according to the warrant.

Salinas went to the trunk of his car and pulled a bud of marijuana from a baggie, and gave it to the detective for $20, the warrant said.

On Thursday Oct. 15, police served a search warrant on Salinas’ car and Kiro’s store, which it called a head shop.

According to the warrant, they found a baggie of marijuana and a pipe in a desk drawer in the office, as well as two baggies and a jar of marijuana in Salinas’ car.

They also seized pipes for sale in the display case.

Kiro and Salinas apparently spent a weekend in jail, as they were arraigned in custody the following Monday, according to court records.

Both have been charged with a felony count of sale or transport of marijuana. Salinas also faces a felony possession for sale charge, while Kiro faces a felony charge of opening a location for the purpose of using or selling drugs.

According to a Web site for a charity Kiro operates, the business used to be located in Costa Mesa but had to move.

Kiro is one of three board members of a small charity called the Moses Kazibwe Memorial Fund for African Children, granted 501 (c)(3) nonprofit status by the Internal Revenue Service in 2003. Kiro raises money through benefit concerts, a jar on the counter at the shop and during weekend drum circles. The money is used for schooling, HIV education, condoms, and medical supplies for poor and homeless children in Africa, according to the fund’s online literature.

In its tax filings for the years 2006-2008, the fund donated $17,241 for various small projects in Burundi and Rwanda. Kiro fled the latter country in the early 90s during the Tutsi genocide and came to the United States, according to the fund.

Neither Kiro nor Salinas has a criminal record in Orange County other than traffic violations.

Another pre-trial hearing in the case was set for Dec. 17.