LIHU‘E — Staring at the possibility of 20 years in jail for weapons and terroristic threatening charges, David A. Dahlberg, 40, was sentenced to a year in jail and five years probation Wednesday by 5th Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe. “You’re
LIHU‘E — Staring at the possibility of 20 years in jail for weapons and terroristic threatening charges, David A. Dahlberg, 40, was sentenced to a year in jail and five years probation Wednesday by 5th Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe.
“You’re in total denial. You’re an alcoholic,” said Watanabe, denying Deputy Public Defender John Calma’s suggestion of a deferred acceptance of guilty plea in a plea agreement.
Dahlberg “terrified” people during the incident involving his ex-girlfriend and another man at the ex-girlfriend’s house, Watanabe said.
Dahlberg was originally charged with two firearms felonies, first-degree burglary, first-degree terroristic threatening, third-degree assault and unauthorized entry into a dwelling, but in a plea agreement was sentenced only for one firearms violation (keeping a pistol in the wrong place to keep one, his vehicle), and the terroristic threatening charge.
“My client has a problem with alcohol,” Calma told Watanabe, adding that Dahlberg had been drinking on the night of the incident, when he allegedly hit his ex-girlfriend and threatened to kill her new boyfriend.
“If you give him the deferred acceptance of guilty, you’ll never see him again, judge,” Calma said. Giving Dahlberg jail time “would be a big step back” for the self-employed tree trimmer.
“You are the bigger person if you can walk away,” Dahlberg said.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar opposed the DAG idea, saying Dahlberg has a “chronic history of alcohol abuse” and has given no indication that that behavior will cease.
“This was a real dangerous situation the defendant got himself into. He threatened to kill somebody,” Kollar said. “He hit his ex-girlfriend,” and only because Kaua‘i Police Department officers arrested him was no real damage done.
Dahlberg’s break was that the police got to him before he shot anybody, said Kollar, requesting one year in jail plus probation.
“It’s not her (the ex-girlfriend’s) fault. It’s his fault he’s here,” said Kollar, adding that he has not taken responsibility for his actions and it’s likely to happen again if the judge fails to send a message.
Watanabe said Dahlberg has been cited for drunk driving and inattentive driving, and found herself agreeing with Kollar on all his points, including the one that Dahlberg got a break when he was arrested.
“I don’t consider your past crimes as only traffic-alcohol related. All of that is a recipe for disaster,” Watanabe said.
“I believe that I have to send out a message to you,” she said to Dahlberg, also telling him he has to forfeit his .45-caliber pistol.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com
