Cook gets 10 years for string of thefts and burglaries

LIHU‘E — Li‘i Kaimana Damon Jack Cook, 25, of Kapa‘a, was sentenced May 27 to 10 years in prison for four separate cases.

While originally charged with 17 different crimes relating to a crime spree over several months in late 2009 and early 2010, in a plea agreement he was found guilty of a single crime in each of four cases.

He had faced upwards of 50 years in prison due to Fifth Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano’s ability to double-up multiple-felony convictions, but the sentences were given concurrently.

Cook, represented by Craig De Costa as his court-appointed attorney, was sentenced to 10 years for first-degree burglary in a case brought against him this year, and five years on each of the following charges in three separate cases: unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, second-degree theft and second-degree burglary.

Kaua‘i Police Department officials said earlier that Cook and accomplices Chelsie Banasihan and Brad Kubisch were responsible for thefts and burglaries over various parts of the island around the 2009 holidays, and that the elusive Cook had at one point eluded police by jumping into the ocean.

Kubisch pleaded guilty in late April in four separate cases, and is scheduled to be sentenced by Valenciano on July 22. Kubisch could be sentenced to life in prison if Valenciano exercises his ability to double terms of incarceration for multiple felonies.

Banasihan pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and second-degree theft in the case with Kubisch and Cook as co-defendants, and faces up to 50 years in prison when she is sentenced by Valenciano on July 1.

All three are incarcerated at the Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center.

Cook was given credit for time already served, and told by Valenciano his time on the cases he was sentenced for last week would start immediately at the proceeding’s conclusion.

County Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho represented the state.