LIHU‘E — Attorneys in the James Henry Pflueger case have tentatively agreed to an October trial date regarding the criminal portion of the Ka Loko dam disaster of 2006.
Pflueger, 85, is a retired auto dealer and ranch owner accused of altering his property in a way that caused the Ka Loko Reservoir Dam to give way on March 14, 2006, following 40 days of rain. The disaster killed seven people living below the dam in dwellings along the flood zone.
Attorneys on both sides anticipate a six- to eight-week trial. After some discussion on the availability of all involved, the trial date was set for Oct. 1. The court noted that delays may push the trial into January 2013.
Lead counsel William C. McCorriston, defense attorneys David Justin Minkin and Brian Sun, and Deputy State Attorney General Mark Miyahiro appeared via video conference Thursday in 5th Circuit Court with Chief Judge Randal Valenciano. Pflueger was not required to be present for the hearing.
The victims include Aurora Fehring, Alan Dingwall, Rowan Fehring-Dingwall, Timothy Noonan, Wayne Rotstein, Christina Macnees and Daniel Arroyo.
A grand jury indicted Pflueger on Nov. 21, 2008. He entered a not-guilty plea in 5th Circuit Court on Jan. 7, 2009. Over the last two years, attorneys have been preparing the case for eventual trial.
Each manslaughter charge carries a maximum of 20 years imprisonment. The reckless endangerment charge carries a possible five-year sentence.
Valenciano scheduled the trial late in the year to accommodate attorney and court calendars. It was also to allow for Pflueger’s federal court trial in May or June.
Attorney Edward M. Robbins Jr. will be representing Pflueger in the federal case that involves various tax charges, including failure to report a foreign bank account.
Any civil cases brought forward will be held in the 5th Circuit court with Judge Kathleen Watanabe.
• Tom LaVenture can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or tlaventure@ thegardenisland.com.
