LIHU‘E — Justice was relatively swift as the third member of a three-person crime ring suspected of multiple thefts and burglaries around the 2009 holidays pleaded guilty Thursday.
Brad K. Kubisch, 24, pleaded guilty to various charges in four separate cases before 5th Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano. Li‘i Cook and Chelsie Banasihan have already pleaded guilty to several similar crimes.
Kubisch is scheduled to be sentenced by Valenciano on July 22. He could be sentenced to life in prison if Valenciano exercises his ability to double terms of incarceration for multiple felonies.
Kubisch was represented by three attorneys in his four cases — Warren Perry, Michael Soong and Caren Dennemeyer. Each was appointed by Valenciano as the state public defenders could not represent Kubisch because they represent co-defendant Kimo Nardin in one of Kubisch’s cases.
As a result of plea bargains, Kubisch had 15 counts dismissed in exchange for his guilty pleas.
Among the charges dismissed were other burglary, theft and firearms violations, car theft, credit-card theft and credit-card fraud, identify theft and attempted theft.
In the case with Cook and Banasihan as co-defendants, Kubisch pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and second-degree theft. All were charged with two counts of first-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree theft in that case.
In the case with Nardin as co-defendant, Kubisch pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted theft and unauthorized possession of confidential personal information.
According to court records, Nardin is still scheduled to go to trial for his alleged crimes May 17.
Nardin is represented by Edmund Acoba, state deputy public defender, who said in court at Kubisch’s change-of-plea appearance Thursday that plea-bargaining involving John Murphy, county deputy prosecuting attorney, continues.
In separate cases with no co-defendants, Kubisch pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and first-degree theft; and having ammunition in a place illegal to keep it.
Lauren McDowell, county deputy prosecuting attorney, handled Kubisch’s change-of-plea hearing.
Banasihan, Cook and Kubisch are at Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center. Valenciano ordered updated bail studies in all of Kubisch’s cases.
According to Kaua‘i Police Department investigators earlier and McDowell in court Thursday, Banasihan, Cook and Kubisch are believed to be responsible for a string of home and condominium break-ins and car thefts across the island.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
