LIHU‘E — A Wailua woman turned herself in to authorities last week after a grand jury indicted her on charges of computer fraud and theft.
LIHU‘E — A Wailua woman turned herself in to authorities last week after a grand jury indicted her on charges of computer fraud and theft.
Mikalynn Hiranaka, 36, was employed as a clerk in the Kaua‘i Police Department Records Division when the alleged crimes took place.
“Employees of government in the state of Hawai‘i, whether at the state or local level, are public servants who must be held accountable when they engage in misconduct,” said state Attorney General Holly Shikada in a release.
The indictment accuses Hiranaka of conducting a scheme from March 2017 to October 2019 in which she illegally collected more than $20,000 in fees on behalf of the Hawai‘i Criminal Justice Data Center, and failed to turn them over to the center.
This was done through creating and submitting “Counter Service reports to the Kaua‘i Police Department.”
According to Shikada, the Attorney General’s office was alerted to the alleged theft by the KPD, which assisted them in the investigation.
KPD declined to comment on the arrest.
Computer fraud in the first degree is a Class A felony punishable by an automatic prison term of up to 20 years and a fine not exceeding $50,000, and theft in the first degree is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine not exceeding $25,000.
Hiranaka was released after posting a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear for her arraignment and plea on Tuesday, May 24.
