LIHUE — A Waimea man who lost his probation for drugs and firearms convictions was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday in 5th Circuit Court.
Stanley Ahana Chock Jr., 44, was sentenced in two cases after the court granted the prosecutor’s motion for revocation of probation.
He was also sentenced to five years of probation and 30 days jail on April 4, 2013.
County Second Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Vogt said Chock has been on abscond status since January from HOPE probation (Hawaii’s Opportunity Probation with Enforcement) for close supervision of high-risk offenders. Chock also admitted to using methamphetamine from Feb. 21 through July 15, she said.
“The HOPE probation staff made every effort to get the defendant into treatment but he did not take advantage of the opportunities,” Vogt said.
In the first case, Chock was convicted on firearms and methamphetamine charges and sentenced to probation and 90 days jail on Sept. 7, 2011. He was placed on HOPE probation after violations on Oct. 22, 2013, and was called back on a revocation bench warrant on Thursday.
In the second case, Chock was also charged with methamphetamine and firearms charges. He pleaded no contest to unlawful use of drug paraphernalia on Jan. 14, 2013. After losing his probation Chock was placed on HOPE probation and violations led the court to grant the prosecutors’ motion revocation.
Court-appointed defense attorney Craig DeCosta asked the court to sentence Chock to a new term of HOPE probation with up to 90 days in jail. He said the defendant had attempted to get in-patient treatment while incarcerated, but it is not clear if resources or bed space were available at the time.
Chief Judge Randal Valenciano said that HOPE probation is largely “self-help,” and that it is not for everyone. It was not for the defendant, but he made it worse by choosing not to participate.
“Unfortunately, the choices that you made placed the court in a position to where the open prison term comes into play,” Valenciano said.
