In Fifth Circuit Court last week, two Kaua‘i residents were sentenced to ten years in prison after being convicted of theft and other charges. Also on May 13, another man was sentenced to six months in jail and five years
In Fifth Circuit Court last week, two Kaua‘i residents were sentenced to ten years in prison after being convicted of theft and other charges.
Also on May 13, another man was sentenced to six months in jail and five years probation after pleading guilty to breaking into a car and other charges, the Kaua‘i prosecutors office announced Friday.
Myrna Nesbitt, 38, who is already serving a jail sentence for unrelated forgery and theft offenses, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment May 13 for first-degree burglary and first-degree theft, said Craig DeCosta, Kaua‘i first deputy prosecuting attorney.
On March 10, a jury found Nesbitt guilty of the offenses, which occurred in September, 2002, after a three-day trial.
In the same case, Irvin Ching, 39, of Puhi, was also sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for felony theft, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, DeCosta said.
The charges arise from a burglary of a Kapa‘a home that Nesbitt was hired to clean. Nesbitt called the victim and asked him to meet her and a friend for drinks at a bar. After not showing up to meet him, Nesbitt called the victim again and told him to meet her at another bar in an effort to keep him away from his home, the prosecutor added.
When the victim gave up waiting for Nesbitt and went home, he discovered his television and other items were gone. The victim immediately went to Nesbitt’s home to confront her and found her coming out of Ching’s van. Ching refused to let the victim search his van and drove off, DeCosta continued.
At trial, Ching and his girlfriend admitted to smoking methamphetamine with Nesbitt in the van but denied being part of the burglary.
The police investigated the case and learned that a few days after the burglary, Nesbitt dropped items off with Ching. The police obtained a search warrant for Ching’s residence in Puhi and discovered some of the stolen items, a rifle, crystal methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia, he added.
At trial, Ching admitted to being a convicted felon and placing the rifle in his bathroom but denied ownership of the rifle. Ching also admitted that the drugs and paraphernalia were his and that, in late 2002, he smoked “ice” every day.
Ching and his girlfriend both testified that Nesbitt brought the stolen items to his home. Ching also testified that Nesbitt asked him if he wanted to buy a Rolex watch, one of the items stolen, but never recovered.
Also on May 13, Darren Cummings, 38, of Hanama‘ulu, was sentenced to six months in prison and a five-year term of probation for unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and felony theft.
Special conditions to Cummings’ probation include paying various fees, and drug testing.
According to DeCosta, Cummings was involved in three separate cases in the latter part of 2003. Cummings entered his guilty pleas to the charges on March 8.
Staff writer Tom Finnegan can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252)
