LIHU‘E — Several defendants changed their plea to guilty or no contest Monday in 5th Circuit Court on charges ranging from burglary, methamphetamine and terroristic threatening, to non-compliance with the state sex offender registry and firearms violations. Chief Judge Randal
LIHU‘E — Several defendants changed their plea to guilty or no contest Monday in 5th Circuit Court on charges ranging from burglary, methamphetamine and terroristic threatening, to non-compliance with the state sex offender registry and firearms violations.
Chief Judge Randal Valenciano presided over both courts Monday with the absence of Judge Kathleen Watanabe.
Ken Nobuyuki Yamahiro, 48, of Waimea, pleaded guilty to felony charges of second-and-third-degree possession of the dangerous drug methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
As part of the deal, a second case involving first-degree methamphetamine charges will be dropped.
Yamahiro’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
With two felony convictions, he faces a possible extended sentence of 20 years in prison.
Michael Hanohano Vea, Jr., 36, of Lihu‘e, pleaded guilty to ownership or possession of firearms, a prohibited item for his prior felony, and to first-degree terroristic threatening.
Both are class C felonies and Vea faces a possible extended sentence of 20 years at his Oct. 10 sentencing.
Kyle Torao Tone, 30, of Kapa‘a, admitted to using methamphetamine, a violation of his Hawai‘i Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) program.
He was placed on HOPE after pleading guilty to first-degree terrorist threatening in February 2008.
With 10 months remaining on his probation, this third-violation resulted in revocation and Tone was re-sentenced to a five-year probation and nine months in jail.
He also lost his deferment that would have expunged the charges upon successful completion of probation.
Misty Pualani Meiling Pacheco, 28, of Ele‘ele, accepted an amended charge of second-degree burglary arrest on April 13.
The original charge was first-degree burglary of the Ele‘ele residence, which could have doubled the possible maximum five years jail and $20,000 fine of the reduced class C felony.
Pacheco has been in custody since her arrest and her sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 18. Stanley H. Gonsalves, 70, of Kapa‘a, pleaded guilty to one-count of contempt of court.
He accepted instant sentencing, which brought one-year probation, time-served and 30 hours of community service.
Gonsalves was arrested on four-counts of non-compliance with the state sex offender registry. He pleaded to one count amended account.
Edward A. Gerneralao, no age or place of residence listed, had his case dismissed by the state.
He was charged with two counts of non-compliance with the state sex offender registry.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Arin said that Gerneralao is compliant. The court dismissed the matter with prejudice, meaning the state has the right to indict a new case based on the same charges.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
