Man sentenced to 5 years for failing probation twice

LIHUE — A Kapaa man who lost his probation for the second time in the same case was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday in 5th Circuit Court.

Jesse Dallezelle Adams, 29, said he has tried probation, treatment and drug court but nothing seemed to work.

“It wasn’t for me,” Adams said. “I am standing here ready to be held accountable and begin the next step of my journey.”

Adams was sentenced to probation and 90 days jail on Nov. 15, 2011, for charges of second-degree theft, first-degree extortion, resisting arrest and second-degree assault against a law enforcement officer. After violations, he was re-sentenced to a new term of probation and admitted into the Kauai Drug Court program on April 30, 2013.

Adams was allowed to leave Kauai to be admitted to Sand Island Treatment Center on Oahu. He was dismissed from the facility for noncompliance and failed to return to jail in Kauai as required by his probation.

Adams also tested positive for methamphetamine and oxycodone. The court granted the state’s motion to revoke his probation on Aug. 13, 2014.

County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer Winn said that after two revocations the defendant has proven he is not amenable to sanctions. With five felony and one misdemeanor conviction, the state could not recommend anything but the open five-year prison term.

Court-appointed defense attorney Michael Soong said Adams is prepared to admit to the allegations regarding his second revocation motion.

He asked the court to consider a concurrent prison term for all charges and sentence him without continuing for another hearing.

Judge Kathleen Watanabe sentenced Adams to five years in prison for second-degree theft and to a concurrent one-year term for resisting arrest.

“Do good time and when you get out I hope that I don’t see you back in this court,” Watanabe said.