LIHU‘E — Kaumakani resident David Ma‘ina‘aupo Jr. faces the possibility of 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to two felony charges stemming from threats he made to a local family last July. In a plea agreement, Ma‘ina‘aupo pleaded guilty
LIHU‘E — Kaumakani resident David Ma‘ina‘aupo Jr. faces the possibility of 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to two felony charges stemming from threats he made to a local family last July.
In a plea agreement, Ma‘ina‘aupo pleaded guilty to first-degree terroristic threatening and keeping a pistol or revolver in an illegal place to keep such a weapon. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop nine other charges.
Those charges dropped include four counts of second-degree terroristic threatening, violating a protective order, two counts of ownership or possession of a prohibited weapon, carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway and having ammunition in an illegal place to keep it.
Ma‘ina‘aupo, 27, is currently housed at Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center in Wailua.
Represented by attorney Rosa Flores, he pleaded guilty and admitted to the crimes before 5th Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe on Nov. 10. He changed his pleas from not guilty to guilty on the same day.
Watanabe has the authority to double sentences on multiple-felony convictions, and if she runs the sentences concurrently Ma‘ina‘aupo could be sentenced to 30 years in prison on Jan. 26.
Lauren McDowell, county deputy prosecuting attorney, said the state is not asking for consecutive sentences.
McDowell said on July 3 Ma‘ina‘aupo threatened three members of the Na‘ea family, and on July 5 was caught by Kaua‘i Police Department officers in possession of a weapon.
Flores did not dispute the facts, and Ma‘ina‘aupo admitted they are correct.
Watanabe said Ma‘ina‘aupo has six earlier felony convictions. She does not have to abide by the terms of the plea agreement.
Ma‘ina‘aupo, wearing a white T-shirt, orange KCCC pants, a rosary around his neck, shaved head and tattoos on his arms, face and neck, said, “I threatened members of (that) family, terrorized them, and possessed a pistol or revolver.”
• Paul C. Curtis, assistant editor and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
