A former County Department of Water supervisor was found guilty of felony theft in the second degree on Feb. 5, in connection with misusing county resources worth $2,600 to complete a privately-contracted job in September 1999. Leedon “Kahea” White, 47,
A former County Department of Water supervisor was found guilty of felony theft in the second degree on Feb. 5, in connection with misusing county resources worth $2,600 to complete a privately-contracted job in September 1999.
Leedon “Kahea” White, 47, of Anahola, was found guilty in Fifth Circuit Court, Judge Clifford L. Nakea presiding. White faces up to five years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine and will be sentenced April 10.
White was accused of ordering county employees under his supervision when he was Water Services supervisor to use Department of Water materials, equipment and manpower to install water services for a job that was privately contracted to his company, White Tractor and Farm. White, who was represented by attorney John Murphy, is no longer employed by the Department of Water.
White contended that as a private contractor, he often loaned equipment to the water department.
He denied that DOW employees did the job, and said that he was not paid for the job.
Murphy further argued that White, in his 24 years as a DOW supervisor, “did everything the way the water department did them for 24 years” and did nothing wrong or illegal.
Deputy County Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho asserted that White was paid $2,600 in cash to install services on property on Waipouli Road and told employees that the job was contracted to the DOW.
The prosecution also argued White falsified a time sheet and instructed employees to falsify their time sheets to reflect the work done.
