HONOLULU -- Former Bishop Estate trustee Gerard Jervis made his first appearance in court on Wednesday on a charge of criminal property damage in connection with teens throwing eggs at his home.

The charge stems from an incident Friday night in which he allegedly rammed a vehicle after the teens inside egged his home.

Jervis, accompanied by his wife and flanked by his attorneys, made no comment other than a brief hello to reporters on his way into the courtroom.

Earlier this week, one of the lawyers for the former Bishop Estate trustee denied that Jervis rammed a sports utility vehicle after the four teenage boys inside threw eggs at his Lanikai home Friday night.

The vehicle ended up on a utility pole guy wire.

In court, District Judge Russell Nagata granted a defense request to preserve the SUV, possibly as evidence.

"Basically it will allow the defense to examine the vehicle before anything is done with it," Jervis' attorney Dan Oyasato said.

Jervis kept quiet in court, letting his attorneys do the talking for him.

As for all the talk in the community about the case the attorneys stayed quiet.

"We really are not going to be commenting on any public discussion about this matter at his point. Just understand that Mr. Jervis is maintaining his innocence," Oyasato said.

Jervis will also maintain his silence, at least until a preliminary hearing in the case three weeks from now.

"We will, when the appropriate time is right, come forward with our defense and put forth Mr. Jervis' position on this whole matter," Oyasato said.