LIHU‘E — A former Chevron manager convicted of embezzling was in 5th Circuit Court Monday for a motion to establish restitution. Gail Mande Vinhaca, 42, of Kapa‘a, was brought over from federal custody on O‘ahu for a hearing to determine
LIHU‘E — A former Chevron manager convicted of embezzling was in 5th Circuit Court Monday for a motion to establish restitution.
Gail Mande Vinhaca, 42, of Kapa‘a, was brought over from federal custody on O‘ahu for a hearing to determine restitution payments upon her release from prison.
Vinhaca was arrested May 14, 2009, and pleaded no contest to three counts of first-degree theft and 269 counts of falsifying business records on July 28, 2010. She was sentenced to 10 years in jail with a 40-month minimum — and the restitution hearing was left undecided.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Murphy said the state would have a representative of the parent company Lahaina Petroleum present to testify to what they consider the restitution amount. He said the number he has is $168,000.
State Deputy Public Defender John Calma wanted the matter continued because the state did not provide the restitution documents until just before the hearing.
Judge Kathleen Watanabe expressed concern that the defendant was transferred from O‘ahu for a hearing that was not ready to proceed. She ordered the hearing continued to Aug. 20 to allow time for prosecution witnesses to be notified and to request another transfer of Vinhaca from federal detention.
The co-defendants included the managers of two stations and an additional employee. They have already been sentenced.
Former assistant manager June Gaines, 39, of Kalaheo, who was sentenced to probation and three months jail on Jan. 18. She pleaded to falsifying shift receipts and agreed to pay $12,826 in restitution.
Former manager Eric Bailey pleaded guilty to falsifying shift receipts on Dec. 2, 2009. He was sentenced to one year in jail, five years of probation, 500 hours of community service, and ordered to pay $21,698 in restitution.
Christopher Bond, a former store employee, pleaded no contest to first-degree theft on Feb. 23. He was granted a deferred sentencing in addition to paying $32,915 in restitution.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
