LIHUE — The man Kauai residents have come to know as the “Jesus Bandit” was released from jail Monday.
Richard Leibman, 41, was in court Monday for a hearing to determine whether he would have to remain in jail for violating the conditions of his probation last year when he failed to show up for scheduled drug testing.
Fifth Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe ruled that Leibman will be allowed to remain on probation because this was his first parole violation since he was released from custody in September.
“You’ve come so far,” Watanabe told Leibman before handing down his sentence. “I’m trying to do the right thing, not just for you, but for the community.”
Leibman’s appearance on Monday morning did not fit his nickname. His hair was parted neatly on the left, and his face was clean shaven. He spoke only once. When called upon for a statement prior to sentencing, Leibman uttered a few brief phrases, his voice barely audible in the quiet courtroom.
Leibman told Watanabe he was sorry and felt stupid for not checking in with his parole officer. He said he has been struggling to acclimate to life on the outside after being incarcerated for so long.
Leibman had spent the previous two years in a state psychiatric facility, after being found mentally unfit to stand trial for charges brought against him in 2015 for burglary and assault against a police officer.
He went missing for months until reports from Princeville residents, saying that a bearded man wearing a sheet had been stealing food from their homes and cushions from their patios, eventually led to Leibman’s arrest in February.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like requested more prison time for Leibman, who she said “did exactly what the state was afraid he would do” the last time he was let out of jail.
“He still chose to abscond almost immediately upon being placed on probation,” she said.
Watanabe reprimanded Leibman but insisted that the court’s original sentence was the correct one, expressing concerns about potentially undoing progress he had made while working with mental health physicians at the state hospital.
“The court doesn’t have a lot of choices here,” Watanabe said, explaining that her only options were to modify the terms of his probation or revoke it altogether, in which case he would once again be incarcerated.
“Frankly, Mr. Leibman, the court has gone out on a limb,” Watanabe said, warning Leibman that if he violates his parole again he will face a five-year prison sentence.
The “bandit” has used up all of his chips. He will more than likely be shot and or killed by a home owner who’s armed when he ends up breaking into the wrong house at the wrong time.
When is Watanabe going to retire?
I’m not sure exactly to what community Judge Watanabe is referring. It certainly is not in the best interest of the community upon which Mr. Lieberman chooses to prey, nor can I see how releasing a person who admits he is “struggling to acclimate to life on the outside” is in his best interest.
I disagree with Judge Watanabe that she has “put the Court out on a limb.” Frankly, I think she has left the community preyed upon by Mr. Lieberman out to dry.
It’s an insult to call him Jesus bandit and the fact that the haoles on the north shore would give the white man the moniker. Jesus was born Jewish and died Jewish. He was never Caucasian. That’s an insult to all Jewish people and all people who believe in religion and Jesus being Lord Christ, son of God and our savior.
It is offensive for TGI to post a derogatory depiction of Christ.
Judge Watanabe always decides like this, look at her past decisions. He actually has 4 more chances to screw up before she does anything to him!