Man accused of striking girlfriend gets 90 days

LIHUE — A man accused of beating up his girlfriend was sentenced Wednesday to 90 days in jail.

Kevin Kaipo Perry, 40, appeared before Judge Kathleen Watanabe on one count of intent of choking in connection to a 2015 arrest.

“This is one of those things where after a couple of hours of drinking, you wind up with good people being charged with crimes,” said Michael Green, Perry’s attorney.

Perry was arrested in June 2015 after police say he choked, punched and kicked his girlfriend.

While Green said he does not recommend sentences for his clients, he suggested Watanabe consider sentencing Perry to the work furlough program at Kauai Community Correctional Center.

“It’s so he can hopefully keep his job, so that the seriousness of the crime will not be deprecated by the sentencing,” he said.

During the proceedings, Perry said he regrets what happened that night.

“I’m deeply sorry and I regret all that happened — it’s not in my character,” he said. “I’m working to never ever be that person again. It was just the worst decision-making ever. I’m currently trying to abstain from alcohol and make the right decisions.”

Perry also apologized to the victim.

“No woman deserves what happened,” he said. “If I could take it back, I would. She says she’s forgiven me, but it’s still not OK.”

Jennifer Winn, first deputy prosecuting attorney, asked Perry be sentenced to 90 days in jail, followed by four years probation.

“He choked his girlfriend. He asked her, ‘Do you want to die?’ He slapped her in the face, pulled her hair, kicked her, bit her and punched her in the face,” Winn said.

Watanabe she took into consideration that Perry no previous convictions.

“I appreciate you coming into court and expecting to get jail time because it’s warranted,” she said.

The state’s recommendation is fair, Watanabe added.

“I can tell you, my initial inclination was to give you more than that,” she said.