LIHU‘E — Even a child knows not to use a credit card if it is not in his or her own name, 5th Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe said. Apparently, Daniel Kama does not. The judge sentenced Kama to 30 days
LIHU‘E — Even a child knows not to use a credit card if it is not in his or her own name, 5th Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe said.
Apparently, Daniel Kama does not.
The judge sentenced Kama to 30 days in jail, five years probation and 500 hours of community service for credit-card fraud after he used a credit card given to him by another man with a third person’s name on it.
Between $200 and $300 in unauthorized charges were made on the card by Kama, and the owner of the card did not initially report it missing because she thought it was lost somewhere in her home, said county Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lauren McDowell.
The credit-card company called the owner of the card, telling her of charges at Wal-Mart, Checkers, McDonald’s and Lihu‘e Chevron, all made without proper authorization, McDowell said.
Kama, through state Deputy Public Defender Edmund Acoba, said he was given the card to buy car parts, didn’t know what he did was wrong and illegal, and asked for a deferred acceptance of guilty ruling, which Watanabe denied.
“I’m very sorry this happened,” said Kama, 55, of Anahola. “Can I have a chance? It won’t happen again, your honor.”
“I still find your story incredible,” the judge said.
“This is your problem, and this is what you’re going to have to pay for,” said Watanabe, who gave Kama until 6 p.m. Wednesday to turn himself in at Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center so he could first take care of some family matters.
Watanabe also ordered Kama to make restitution in monthly payments beginning shortly after his release.
