LIHU’E — Former Kaua’i police officer Malcolm Rodrigues, Jr., 27, was sentenced by a state judge yesterday to 90 days in jail for extorting a rifle and for theft of gasoline from police facilities. In addition, Circuit Judge George Masuoka
LIHU’E — Former Kaua’i police officer Malcolm Rodrigues, Jr., 27, was
sentenced by a state judge yesterday to 90 days in jail for extorting a rifle
and for theft of gasoline from police facilities.
In addition, Circuit
Judge George Masuoka placed Rodrigues on five year’s probation and required him
to perform 400 hours of community service and to pay about $1,000 to the
Kaua’i Police Department.
Rodrigues was ordered to continue to seek mental
health treatment and not to drink alcohol.
Deputy Prosecutor Shaylene
Iseri-Carvalho said Rodrigues abused his powers as a police officer and,
through his crimes, “has brought shame” to the Kaua’i Police Department and
Kaua’i County.
The extortion charge stems from allegations that Rodrigues
purchased a rifle from a Kapa’a resident on March 12, 1999, in exchange for not
arresting the resident.
The two theft charges stem from his theft of
gasoline from police facilities 59 times over the past year.
He pleaded no
contest to the charges in August, 1999.
Kaua’i attorney Al Castillo Jr. and
Honolulu attorney Michael Green had asked the judge to grant their requests
for deferred acceptance of no contest pleas.
Had the judge agreed to their
requests, Rodrigues’ record for the offenses would have been erased if he
complied with the conditions of his sentence.
Green said Rodrigues admitted
wrongdoing and has served the community well during his five years with the
police force.
The attorney said jail time would not benefit his client,
noting that incarcerated law enforcement officers are treated more harshly than
other inmates.
Rodrigues was free on his own recognizance before
sentencing. He resigned from the Kaua’i Police Department late last
year.
SEXUAL ASSAULT: In other matters, Paul Woods, 36, of Kapa’a,
pleaded not guilty in Circuit Court to three sexual assault counts, one count
of kidnapping and eight counts of harassment arising from the assault of a
woman in a home in East Kaua’i on July 17, 1999.
Woods was indicted Dec.
20, and was arrested on Kaua’i on Jan. 8, based on a bench warrant. On Jan.
10, he posted $15,000 bail and was released.
A Circuit Court trial for
Woods is scheduled on April 3.
In addition, Woods faces three contempt
charges unrelated to the incident. Those charges will be tried in District
Court.
