LIHU‘E — A defendant from the Nawiliwili ATM theft case has accepted a plea deal in 5th Circuit Court. Alvin Hoichi Isobe, 49, of Kapa‘a, pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree theft of an automatic teller machine at Anchor Cove Shopping
LIHU‘E — A defendant from the Nawiliwili ATM theft case has accepted a plea deal in 5th Circuit Court.
Alvin Hoichi Isobe, 49, of Kapa‘a, pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree theft of an automatic teller machine at Anchor Cove Shopping Center during the early morning hours of Sept. 26, 2011. He and at least one other person secured the ATM to a vehicle and pulled the machine and its bolts out of its concrete foundation.
The deal also had Isobe plead guilty to a second-degree theft charge at K-mart. The Feb. 6 incident involved items exceeding $300 in value.
In his statement to the court, Isobe said he took $30,000 from the ATM and the items from Kmart without permission. Remaining cases involving drugs, harassment and an assault charge are to be dismissed in the deal.
Attorneys Michael Soong and Mark Zenger represented Isobe in the four cases on Tuesday.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Murphy represented the state.
Chief Judge Randal Valenciano informed Isobe that the first-degree theft charge carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence and a $20,000 fine. The second-degree theft charge carries a maximum 5-year prison sentence and a $5,000 fine.
The court also will have discretion to impose an extended 30-year sentence for two felony convictions.
Isobe was convicted in two second-degree burglary and two first-degree theft cases in 1986. He was sentenced to five years in each case.
The second defendant, Joseph Kaumaualii Rapozo III, 27, of Anahola, was arrested Sept. 29, 2011, and charged with first- and second-degree theft, and fourth-degree criminal property damage in connection with the ATM robbery.
He is currently held on federal detention on other matters and has an Aug. 20 trial date in 5th Circuit Court.
Rapozo was arrested after a traffic stop and charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, probation violations, second-degree assault of a police officer, and second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.
The ATM is the property of Financial Consulting and Trading International of Los Angeles. A Loomis employee reported the machine missing during an early morning servicing call.
Management said the stolen ATM was the replacement of a machine damaged in a failed theft attempt in April 2010.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
