Noel Layaoen, 47, of ‘Ele‘ele, was sentenced by Judge Kathleen N.A. Watanabe to a total maximum of six years in prison for three counts of Forgery in the Second Degree, three counts of Theft in the Second Degree, one count of Theft in the Third Degree and one count of Theft in the Fourth Degree in four separate cases. Layaoen entered his guilty pleas to the six felony offenses, one misdemeanor and one petty misdemeanor on Oct. 13, 2005.
Layaoen’s crime spree took place from October 2004 through July 2005. After each arrest by the police, Layaoen or one of his family members would post the required bail bond or cash bail. The offenses involved forging other people’s personal checks and the theft of a dirt bike.
• Norman Paza, 37, formerly of Lihue, was re-sentenced to five years in prison by Chief Judge George M. Masuoka, after being found in violation of the terms and conditions of his probation for Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle. Paza was convicted of the felony offense on Ja. 26, 1998. Paza was arrested for the offense on May 9, 1997 for taking another persons truck, making changes to it to cover up that it was stolen, and driving it around as his own. Paza entered a no contest plea to the charge on Sept. 24, 1997 two hours into jury selection in his trial.
A motion to revoke Paza’s probation was filed by prosecutors on Sept. 2, 1999 after Paza’s probation officer reported that Paza tested positive for methamphetamine use. A bench warrant for Paza’s arrest was issued at that time but Paza avoided police until he was arrested on Oct. 4, 2000 and found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Additional grounds for revocation were reported in October 2000 and included the new felony drug charges, failing to complete community service work, failing to pay fines as ordered, failing to report to his probation officer as ordered, and moving without informing his probation officer.
Hearing on the motion to revoke Paza’s probation was set for Nov. 8, 2000 and Paza failed to appear for that hearing.
Another bench warrant for Paza’s arrest was issued and Paza was arrested by police again in January 2001. Again Paza was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia leading to new felony charges. The hearing on the motion to revoke Paza’s probation was reset for Feb. 8, 2001 and again Paza failed to appear and another bench warrant for Paza’s arrest was issued. Paza was arrested on that Bench Warrant and Bench Warrants for failing to appear for trials on the pending drug offenses in January 2005. Paza finally admitted to the allegations that he violated the terms and conditions of his probation on Dec. 22, 2005.
Paza is also facing sentencing by Judge Watanabe on the October 2000 and January 2001 felony drug charges on Feb. 23, 2006.
• Desmond Gilbert, 28, of ‘Ele‘ele, was sentenced by Judge Watanabe to a five year term of probation for Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree. Special conditions to Gilbert’s probation include serving 40 days in jail (which is the equivalent of the time he already served in jail on this charge), performing 400 hours of community service work, participating in a substance abuse evaluation and treatment as recommended, submitting to drug testing, completing an anger management program, seeking and maintaining full time employment, and payment of court fees.
Gilbert entered his guilty plea to the felony offense on Oct. 24, 2005, the day his trial was set to begin. Gilbert was arrested by police on Feb. 18, 2005 after Gilbert threatened to drive his truck through his father’s restaurant and shoot all of the people in the restaurant.
• Shannon Lopez, 38, of Koloa, was sentenced by Judge Watanabe to a five year term of probation for Promoting a Dangerous Drug in the Third Degree and Resisting an Order to Stop a Motor Vehicle. Special conditions of probation include serving 144 days in jail (the equivalent to time Lopez already spent in jail for these offenses), attending and completing intensive outpatient drug treatment, submitting to drug testing, seeking and maintaining full time employment, and payment of court fees.
