Christopher Cruz was depressed last summer. He was also hanging out with the wrong crowd. And his actions finally caught up with him last Thursday, when Fifth Circuit Court Judge Clifford Nakea sentenced him to six months in jail, suspended
Christopher Cruz was depressed last summer.
He was also hanging out with the wrong crowd.
And his actions finally caught up with him last Thursday, when Fifth Circuit Court Judge Clifford Nakea sentenced him to six months in jail, suspended his driver’s license for at least two years and placed him on five year’s probation.
Last summer, Cruz, feeling suicidal and missing his deceased father, according to his attorney Al Castillo Jr., ran his automobile into an oncoming car in an attempt to commit suicide, authorities said.
Cruz lost the sight in one eye and did even worse damage to the driver of the car he plowed into on Kuhio Highway. That man still cannot stand for prolonged periods of time and has difficulty walking any distances, according to authorities.
“You could have been charged with a much more serious charge than negligent injury” in the first degree, for which he was sentenced, Nakea told Cruz. The Cruz’s action “was planned. You showed no consideration for anyone else.”
Cruz, wearing a patch over his damaged eye, was supported in court by family members and a girlfriend.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
