LIHU‘E — James J. Mundon II was sentenced to the maximum of five years imprisonment Thursday after revocation of his probation on a family-abuse charge, prosecutors said. According to prosecutors, Mundon, 49, of Kapa‘a, tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana,
LIHU‘E — James J. Mundon II was sentenced to the maximum of five years imprisonment Thursday after revocation of his probation on a family-abuse charge, prosecutors said.
According to prosecutors, Mundon, 49, of Kapa‘a, tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana, and did not receive court-mandated, alternatives-to-violence counseling. Those are the reasons his probation was revoked.
Circuit Court Judge George M. Masuoka, when sentencing Mundon, said his history of domestic violence and the severity of the crime (the victim suffered broken ribs) led to the decision.
Mundon spent six months in jail in 2004 after being charged with 22 counts of sexual assault, kidnapping, and other crimes in relation to a sexual assault on a 21-year-old visitor in February, 2004.
Those charges were dismissed in August when prosecutors failed to go to trial before state-sanctioned deadlines for a defendant’s right to a speedy trial.
In other Circuit Court news:
- Jesse Olanolan was sentenced to 90 days in jail after being convicted in a jury trial on two counts of intimidating a witness.
Olanolan, 32, of Hanalei, still maintained his innocence in front of Masuoka.
“He never intended to intimidate (the witnesses), because they never were going to testify,” said Olanolan’s lawyer, Warren Perry. “He was going to accept a (plea) offer.
“He has always stuck with what he says happened,” Perry said. “It is a crazy, messed-up situation.”
According to First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Richard Minatoya, Olanolan still has not accepted responsibility for his actions. Minatoya said Olanolan threatened the two victims outside Hanalei Courthouse, telling them that if they testified against him, he’d kill their crops.
Citing Olanolan’s “extensive criminal history” of misdemeanor and petty-misdemeanor convictions, Masuoka sentenced Olanolan to the jail time.
He also ordered Olanolan to complete five years probation, pay $350 in fines, and complete 400 hours of community service.
- Jordan Kalani Kaeo Valente was sentenced to six months imprisonment for beating the mother of his children with a golf club, causing a laceration that required stitches.
Valente, a former baseball and football coach in Anahola, said that the incident was completely out of character.
“That night, it wasn’t me,” Valente said, “I’m not a violent man.” James Itamura, Valente’s deputy public defender, agreed, and said Valente will not be doing this again. “He takes full responsibility for the incident,” Itamura said. “He’s very easy-going. He’s trying to pull his life together, (and he) will not be in trouble again.”
But Masuoka disagreed.
“Nothing can justify, short of self-defense, hitting someone in the back with a golf club,” said the judge. “You can’t say you’re not a violent person, because this is a violent act.”
Masuoka also sentenced Valente to five years probation, and ordered him to pay $250 in fines and perform 400 hours of community service.
- Junedale Matsuda pleaded guilty to a second-degree theft charge Thursday as the result of a plea deal with prosecutors.
Matsuda admitted to stealing $5,000 from her former employer, leaders at Kipu Ranch, but she had been accused of stealing $60,000.
“I took it and hid it at home,” said Matsuda as part of her plea. “I had no other excuse.” Prosecutors said Kipu Ranch leaders reserved the right to ask for repayment of all the money they believe was stolen, and Matsuda’s lawyer Mark Zenger requested for a judge to make a determination if they did ask for any more than $5,000. Matsuda could be sentenced for up to five years when she is sentenced on Tuesday, March 15.
Tom Finnegan, staff writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or mailto:tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.
