LIHU‘E — A Hanama‘ulu man charged with 224 counts of identity and credit card theft, forgery and theft was sentenced Monday in 5th Circuit Court to 10 years in prison. Pohaku Lee Mitsuo Matsuura, 35, broke into hotel rooms, vehicles,
LIHU‘E — A Hanama‘ulu man charged with 224 counts of identity and credit card theft, forgery and theft was sentenced Monday in 5th Circuit Court to 10 years in prison.
Pohaku Lee Mitsuo Matsuura, 35, broke into hotel rooms, vehicles, and area businesses between July and September 2011, to obtain cash, credit cards and checkbooks. He attempted to write stolen checks for cash, electronics and jewelry amounting to several thousands of dollars, said County Second Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Vogt.
In addition, Matsuura was convicted of breaking into a preschool and writing stolen checks payable to his wife’s account. He also pleaded to taking a hotel ledger containing personal information of guests.
“When someone steals from a pre-school, especially someone with a criminal record like this one, it’s a sign that they don’t respect the community and cannot be part of it,” Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar said in a press release Monday. “We thank the KPD investigators for their hard work on this case, and hope Mr. Matsuura learns from the error of his ways.”
When confronted by police, Matsuura attempted to flee, Vogt said in court. The officer who apprehended him injured his knee in the process of holding him down.
The defendant’s criminal history includes a five-year prison sentence for second-degree theft in 1998, which included a revocation or probation and re-sentencing. He also receives one-year in jail for methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in 1996, and another one-year jail term for fourth-degree sexual assault in 2003.
The defendant has not performed well on probation, Vogt added. The state recommended the open 10-year prison term.
Matsuura made apologies to the court and said his crimes were not for drugs. He apologized for stealing from his victims, and to his family, who he said has supported him all along.
Matsuura’s spouse and members of his family were in court. His father-in-law told the court that Pohaku is a changed man, has been sober for 10 years, and would be staying and working with him in addition to working for the church ministry.
Judge Kathleen Watanabe said she didn’t doubt the sincerity in the remarks made by the defendant’s family. The severity of the charges and criminal history makes it difficult to consider a lighter sentence, she said.
The number of victims and charges clearly indicate that this was a crime spree, Watanabe said. The victims ranged from individuals, businesses, hotels, agencies and even a preschool.
The court would be sending a bad message to the community and to the victims in this case with a light sentence, she said. It would also not do well with people in similar financial circumstances who find a way to get by without committing crimes.
The state was very generous in its offer, Watanabe said to the defendant. The court does not consider the defendant a good candidate for probation, she said.
Matsuura’s case came to Circuit court via preliminary hearing on Feb. 9. He changed his plea to no contest on 20 class-C felony charges on Dec. 26.
The charges includes multiple counts of unauthorized entry, credit card theft, identity theft, credit card fraud and forgery. He was also charged with second-degree assault against a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest.
The B-felony charge for second-degree burglary is what brought the 10 year sentence. There were 23 C-felony charges that carry a five-year term, and two misdemeanor charges with a one-year term.
Watanabe added a $2,100 crime victim compensation fee. It amounts to a $105 fee for each of the 20 C felony charges.
State Deputy Public Defender Stephanie Sato asked the court to sentence the defendant to a five-year probation with 18 months in jail. She said the defendant lost his home in a real estate scam and that out of desperation he committed these crimes to support his family.
Sato said the defendant pleaded to a third of the charges in the deal with the state, and that more than half of them would be difficult to prove at trial. He has taken responsibility for his actions and understands that hardship is no excuse, she said.
Sato objected when the state presented alleged drug paraphernalia information from Matsuura’s home during the arrest. She said the defense was not provided with evidence or testing results, and asked the court not to consider the statements during sentencing.
State Deputy Public Defender Dena Renti Cruz represented Matsuura in two other cases at the same sentencing hearing. Matsuura had pleaded no contest to driving without a license, reckless driving, false certificate, and no motor vehicle insurance in December, and has already served the time required.
Matsuura received 30 days jail and a $1,000 fine for the reckless driving charge, along with one-year jail and a $1,500 fine for driving without a license in the first case. He received one-year jail and a $500 fine for the second driving without a license case.
All prison time runs concurrent and Matsuura will get credit for approximately 18 months time served.
