LIHUE — A Kekaha man was sentenced to a five-year prison term on Thursday for possession of more than 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine. “I apologize to the court for my actions and wrong choices,” said Jason Lee Martin in his
LIHUE — A Kekaha man was sentenced to a five-year prison term on Thursday for possession of more than 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine.
“I apologize to the court for my actions and wrong choices,” said Jason Lee Martin in his statement to the judge. “I feel remorse, but I know it’s too little, too late.”
Martin, 43, was initially charged with an A-felony first-degree methamphetamine trafficking offense before it was reduced in a plea deal involving other cases. The case arose from a Feb. 12, 2010, arrest and lingered in court as the defendant managed a host of health problems.
When police attempted to pull the defendant over he crashed his vehicle into a tree, said County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Tobin. Police found $12,000 in cash and 1.5 ounces of crystal methamphetamine divided into 43 gram individual bags.
That amount of money and drugs is more than enough for personal use and the defendant was likely selling the worst drug available to this community, he said.
“That is why this defendant deserves to go to jail,” Tobin added.
State Deputy Public Defender Stephanie Sato asked the court to consider a five-year term of felony HOPE probation (Hawaii’s Opportunity Probation with Enforcement) which offers frequent drug testing and jail sanctions for violations and if revoked would likely lead to prison.
Other than the recent offense, the defendant had performed well on probation for two years, Sato said. She said he qualified as a non-violent second time drug offender would benefit from probation with drug rehabilitation to address the underlying addiction.
“The defendant has been living with a disability since 2003,” Sato said. “He is just doing his best to live and to get by each day.”
Chief Judge Randal Valenciano of the 5th Circuit sentenced Martin to concurrent five-year prison terms on two charges of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. Part of the reason was, that he was sentenced to five years after failing probation in 2008, and then performed poorly on parole. “Given the criminal history an open term is appropriate in this case,” Valenciano said.
