LIHU‘E — This is a story about a crime, a bust, a prosecution and a conviction. But it is also a story of determination, undying love, perseverance, five years of prayer, some powerful players going to bat for a convicted
LIHU‘E — This is a story about a crime, a bust, a prosecution and a conviction.
But it is also a story of determination, undying love, perseverance, five years of prayer, some powerful players going to bat for a convicted felon, and more.
Of the 11 people who received pardons from Gov. Linda Lingle for various crimes, Joseph Francisco Medina is the only one originally from Kaua‘i to receive a pardon that removes the 1996 conviction from his record.
“It wipes the slate clean,” said Clara Medina, 58, Joseph Medina’s wife, who said she started the pardon paperwork process in 2005.
That involved filling out all kinds of paperwork, getting letters of recommendation from lawyers and other people, and then having everyone — family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, all who wrote letters in support of Medina — interviewed by special agents from the state Office of the Attorney General, said Clara Medina.
“We were saying a lot of prayers,” she said in a telephone interview Tuesday.
“My wife and I went through a lot,” said Joseph Medina, 59. “It’s like the punishment wouldn’t stop. Finally it’s over.”
Joseph F. Medina was arrested in February 1996 for having 45 marijuana plants in his Kapa‘a home, and was originally charged with second-degree commercial promotion of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and second-degree promoting a detrimental drug.
Medina was convicted of first-degree promoting a detrimental drug, a class C felony, and was sentenced to one year in prison and five years probation.
He received his certificate of discharge from probation on Nov. 26, 2001.
He had been arrested in 1988 for abuse of a family or household member but has had no further arrests since 1996.
The year he spent at Kaua‘i Community Correctional Facility turned out to be a lifesaver, he said.
Though he lost his house and job as a laborer who would eventually work his way up to a white-collar supervisor in the county Department of Public Works, he never lost hope.
Gary Rodrigues of the United Public Workers union helped him get his job back, complete with back pay, vacation and sick leave, after then-Mayor Maryanne Kusaka fired Medina, he said.
Medina said Kusaka, who could not be reached for comment for this story, was supposed to follow five steps leading to eventual termination, not jump right to termination, but that he doesn’t hold a grudge and still hugs Kusaka when he sees her in public.
“She made mistakes and I made mistakes also. We all make mistakes,” he said. “Nobody’s perfect.”
Warden Neal Wagatsuma of KCCC “doesn’t give up on people. He believed in me and that gave me more drive.
“I feel like I’m one of his trophy students. I’ll never forget that man.”
The feeling is mutual, Wagatsuma said.
“He was one of the few inmates who made a complete turnaround. He kind of exemplifies what we hope the inmates can accomplish,” said Wagatsuma.
“I’m really kind of proud of him,” the warden said.
“It’s hard to find inmates who develop stability. We hope that they become better people, embrace social standards,” he said.
“There are still a few who continue to do really well.”
Medina was able to buy another Kaua‘i home, which he sold before buying land and building a home south of Hilo on the Big Island, where his wife is from. He retired from DPW after 25 years of service, and now drives a school bus part-time on the Big Island.
His wife runs a day care business out of their home, she said. Son Travis Medina, 25, of Kapa‘a, works for the federal Transportation Security Administration at Lihu‘e Airport.
“I guess this means a lot to me because we have four generations on Kaua‘i,” and they backed him up and he appreciates it, Joseph Medina said.
“You can change.”
Medina said he first read about his pardon in the Hawai‘i Tribune-Herald newspaper, and he had expected some sort of notification in the mail. “It was a real shocker” to read about his pardon in the newspaper.
“You can bounce back,” said Medina, whose father before him was also a county employee.
He was pardoned June 30, and is one of 11 people pardoned by Lingle in the first half of this year. She has pardoned 88 people since taking office.
Lingle said in a press release announcing the 11 pardons that each pardon request was reviewed by her, the state Department of Public Safety, the Hawai‘i Paroling Authority and the state Attorney General’s office.
“The individuals broke the law, but they have served their sentences, kept their records clean and have proven that they are now leading law-abiding lives in the community,” said Lingle.
• Paul C. Curtis, assistant editor and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
