LIHUE — An inmate at Kauai Community Correctional Center has been indicted on sexual assault charges for a rape he allegedly committed earlier this year while out of prison on a work release program.
LIHUE — An inmate at Kauai Community Correctional Center has been indicted on sexual assault charges for a rape he allegedly committed earlier this year while out of prison on a work release program.
A Fifth Circuit grand jury on Wednesday indicted Stephen Kaliko Makanani, age 33, on one count of sexual assault in the first degree for an incident that allegedly took place in August, according to a statement issued by the Kauai Prosecuting Attorney’s office.
Makanani was serving a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of motor vehicle theft in November 2017 — the state had requested a 20-year sentence because the car theft was committed just months after Makanani finished serving a previous five-year term for a number of other charges.
In August 2018, after less than a year in prison, Makanani was allowed to participate in a work furlough program, offered by the Hawaii Department of Public Safety as “an authorized, unescorted, temporary leave of absence from the institution,” intended to provide convicts with opportunities to socialize and prepare for reintigration to society prior to parole.
Makanini’s participation in the program came despite what the prosecuting attorney’s office described as “the state’s strong objection,” due to Makanini’s relatively extensive criminal history.
He has previously been found guilty of nine felonies in five different cases, including convictions for burglary, illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, credit card theft, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, and unauthorized possession of confidential personal information.
Makanani is currently in custody. His bail is set at $500,000.
Stephen Makanani is now being held on bail of $500,000?! That’s nuts, he is still serving time for his previous conviction.
When the prosecutor says a 20 year prison sentence is needed to protect the public from a dangerous repeat law breaker, what justification does the judge give for such lienciency?
Who is this judge? Why is the judge not identified? People have a right to know.
I honestly wish there was some way to hold the OPA and the judge accountable. Don’t get me wrong, the rapist IS the one who should be punished. However, in this and too many other instances, there’s a soft judge and / or a prosecuting attorney too quick to cut a deal to limit or minimize the punishment. This should have NEVER happened except for the light sentencing and the insanity to grant this rapist work release. Yes, innocent until proven guilty. Ironically, it sounds like the jury was reluctant to do its full job back in 2017.
He is a career criminal with no intentions of reforming so should rot in prison without parole for the rest of his life. Hard labor on some chain gang working from dawn to dust and bread and water.
I am one of his victims. He stole my car and I received no compensation whatsoever. The vehicle was trashed, and after $1500 in losses the jury who found him guilty of stealing my vehicle did not award any restitution.. so I ate that. I did write a detailed objection to any early parole due to the extensive record this career criminal was carrying. In spite of my letter pleading they do not allow early parole and warning that this criminal is a threat to the public, they let him out less than a year later. To the jury, the Judge and the Warden who let him out; THIS RAPE IS ON YOU!! YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES.