LIHU‘E — Two of the three people suspected in a string of burglaries and thefts across the island near the end of last year have either pleaded guilty or been found guilty of some of those crimes, state court records
LIHU‘E — Two of the three people suspected in a string of burglaries and thefts across the island near the end of last year have either pleaded guilty or been found guilty of some of those crimes, state court records show.
Chelsie Malie Banasihan pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and second-degree theft in the case with co-defendants Li‘i Kaimana Cook and Brad Kubisch, and guilty in two other cases wherein she could be facing up to 50 years in prison when she is sentenced July 1 by 5th Circuit Chief Judge Randal Valenciano.
A plea agreement worked out between prosecution and defense, which Valenciano has a choice to honor or not, calls for probation and 18 months in prison for Banasihan.
Cook in another plea agreement pleaded no contest to charges in several cases including the one with Banasihan and Kubisch as co-defendants, and guilty to first-degree burglary in another case, and was found guilty by Valenciano of four charges in four separate cases (unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, second-degree theft, first-degree burglary and second-degree burglary), and had 14 other charges dismissed in those four cases, court records show.
Cook is scheduled to be sentenced by Valenciano on May 27, and could be facing 20 years or more in prison.
Kubisch is scheduled to make his next appearance before Valenciano on April 22, with the matter in the case with the co-defendants described in court records as a hearing on a change of plea, trial-setting or status (of plea bargaining).
He remains charged with two counts of first-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree theft. Kubisch’s jury trial was originally scheduled for Monday.
Earlier, Kaua‘i Police Department leaders said the trio is believed to be responsible for a string of thefts and burglaries across the island just before the Christmas holidays, when all three were arrested.
All three are currently at Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
