LIHU‘E — Roderick Ragus Bagaoisan could face a lengthy prison term in January when he will be sentenced on theft and multiple weapons charges. A jury before 5th Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano last week deliberated around four hours before delivering
LIHU‘E — Roderick Ragus Bagaoisan could face a lengthy prison term in January when he will be sentenced on theft and multiple weapons charges.
A jury before 5th Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano last week deliberated around four hours before delivering guilty verdicts on six of nine charges against the 39-year-old Kekaha man.
He was found guilty of first-degree theft, second-degree theft and four counts of ownership or possession of firearms by a convicted felon. He was found not guilty of three similar firearms charges.
Bagaoisan in 1998 was found guilty of the felony offenses of second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and unlawful use of or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced at that time by 5th Circuit Judge George Masuoka to five years in prison with a mandatory term of two years, with credit for time served.
That was after Bagaoisan pleaded no contest to the earlier drug charges. A third charge, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, was dropped.
Valenciano has the ability to double sentences in multiple-felony convictions, and the option of running the sentences concurrently or consecutively.
So with a maximum term of 10 years (and fines of up to $25,000) for each of the five Class B felonies and five years (and up to $50,000) for the Class C felony, if Valenciano decides to run the sentences concurrently instead of consecutively, and double up on the sentences, Bagaoisan could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Bagaoisan is also scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 6 on another drug charge in another case, a Class C felony of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug. He was found guilty of that charge by another jury in July.
Caren Dennemeyer represented Bagaoisan at his jury trials in July and again last week. John Murphy, county deputy prosecuting attorney, represented the state in both cases.
The case files from last week’s trial indicate Bagaoisan admitted being in possession of the firearms, and the theft charges were brought because he was in possession of stolen firearms and cash.
In March, Bagaoisan made The Garden Island’s Most Wanted list — supplied by the Kaua‘i Police Department — as a result of bench warrants issued for criminal contempt of court (not showing up for scheduled court appearances).
• Paul C. Curtis, assistant editor and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
