A South Shore resort general manager who pleaded guilty to avoid trial for trespassing, a man arrested for running away from police while carrying a loaded weapon and a man accused of family abuse against his girlfriend were among those
A South Shore resort general manager who pleaded guilty to avoid trial for trespassing, a man arrested for running away from police while carrying a loaded weapon and a man accused of family abuse against his girlfriend were among those who appeared before Judge Clifford L. Nakea Monday, March 3.
- Henry Perez, 39, of Po’ipu, general manager of Lawai Beach Resort and Poipu Beach Resort Association board member, was scheduled to stand trial this week for criminal trespassing on Sheraton Kauai Resort property last September. He and prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho worked out a plea agreement to avoid trial.
Records showed that resort security issued a trespass notice against Perez in February 2001, roughly the same time period as a divorce from his wife, who worked as administrative assistant to Gary Aoki, operations manager, who initiated the trespass order.
Perez said he was arrested after asking security why the trespass notice was still in effect. The PBRA board of directors’ offices are located on Sheraton property, and Aoki and his ex-wife had left the resort six months to a year before his arrest, Perez said. The PBRA had to move its meetings elsewhere, and Perez is still banned from entering the property.
He was granted immediate sentencing and a deferment of guilty plea. He is to pay a $500 fine and will be on probation for six months under the deferment. In the plea deal, the prosecutors’ office offered not to recommend jail time or community service. He could have faced up to a year in jail and/or a $2,000 fine.
- Daniel Perry, 30, took a plea agreement in a case charging him with prohibited ownership of ammunition and firearm. Perry was prohibited from carrying a firearm because he was convicted of an assault charge in 1996.
Perry pleaded guilty to having transporting a weapon illegally-not to or from a legit place of usage and not in an enclosed storage box. The plea deal dropped the Class B felony charge of possession of a firearm with a prior assault record.
On Oct. 14, 2002, Perry was at the Wailua Falls lookout when a police patrol officer saw him walking with the gun, which was later identified as a 30-caliber carbine rifle.
Police records stated that Perry ran away and the gun was found in the tall grass. Police found eight live rounds in the magazine but none in the chamber. After being advised of his rights, Perry admitted to owning the weapon. Perry will be sentenced May 8.
- Anthony Joseph Talafous, 50, was scheduled for a jury trial but decided to accept a plea agreement from the prosecutor’s office, Jennifer Winn represented the state’s case.
Talafous was charged with the misdemeanor charge of abuse of a family or household member against his girlfriend at the time.
Police records and further investigation showed that Talafous and his girlfriend went to the beach and upon arriving at home they got into a verbal agreement. She went into the bedroom; he followed her and choked her. As a result, she suffered pain to her head and neck. The woman went right away to the YWCA crisis shelter and stayed there for more than two months.
In Family Court, Talafous could have pleaded “no contest” but in Circuit Court was required to plead guilty in the agreement. Talafous faced a maximum of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. The prosecutor’s office’s recommendation, Nakea sentenced Talafous to 48 hours, the mandatory minimum.
- David Olanolan and Kaula Wattson, both charged with illegally entering a car to fight, appeared to ask for a continuance for trial. Olanolan is represented by John Calma; Wattson is represented by Michael Wichman. Their next scheduled court appearance is April 14.
