Probation for threats against family

LIHU‘E — Terroristic threats against his own family members got a Lihu‘e man five years probation and restraining orders.

Sean Kimo Francisco, 41, had already served 232 days in custody at Kaua‘i Community Corrections Center at the time of his sentencing Thursday in 5th Circuit Court. He has sat in jail ever since for three counts of first-degree terroristic threats.

County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Melinda Mendes said the tapes of Francisco’s messages to his own family were frightening. She said the family cares for him, but that out of concern for their safety and that of their children, they wanted a restraining order.

State Deputy Public Defender Christian Enright said Francisco has a light criminal history and no felonies. He said a letter from the Warden of KCC described him as a model prisoner in his programs.

Francisco apologized to the court and to his father and brothers for “talking crazy.” He said that after more than nine months of sobriety, he is working toward a better chance at life and that he would comply with the court’s orders in sentencing.

Francisco concluded by saying he wished he hadn’t said the things he did and that he would stay out of trouble.

Chief Judge Randal Valenciano said that it’s one thing to “talk crazy” but that when it makes people scared, they cannot tell if you intend to follow through on those threats. He denied the defense motion to defer acceptance of the guilty plea that would have cleared the charges from Francisco’s record upon successful completion of probation.

Valenciano said the defendant had spent considerable time in jail already and sentenced Francisco to time served. In addition to the probation and restraining orders, he ordered chemical dependency assessments, anger management classes and other programs deemed necessary by the probation department.