LIHU‘E — A Kapa‘a man has pleaded guilty to two separate family abuse charges and faces sentencing for both in January. Joseph Anthony Palazzolo, 74, stood before 5th Circuit Chief Judge Randal Valenciano on Monday to change his plea to
LIHU‘E — A Kapa‘a man has pleaded guilty to two separate family abuse charges and faces sentencing for both in January.
Joseph Anthony Palazzolo, 74, stood before 5th Circuit Chief Judge Randal Valenciano on Monday to change his plea to guilty on charges of family and household member abuse and second-degree terrorist threat. He was represented by State Public Defending Attorney Christian Enright.
Palazzolo was arrested June 22 on second-degree terrorist threat and family abuse charges.
County Deputy Prosecutor Melinda Mendes read the indictment to note that Palazzolo struck the female victim several times in the arms and chest and applied pressure to the neck causing bruising and constricted breathing.
Valenciano said in court that the state’s plea deal reduces the abuse charge from a Class C felony to a misdemeanor. The charge could still carry a one-year sentence and a $2,000 fine.
The state recommends Palazzolo serve two years of probation, attend anger management, pay full restitution and honor a stay-away order from the victim.
There is a mandatory minimum jail sentence of two days for the charge, according to Valenciano. The defense noted that Palazzolo has already served 71 days in jail and the state recommended a sentence of time served.
Palazzolo is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 26.
He entered a guilty plea in another case on Oct. 18 in 5th Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe’s courtroom. They were identical counts from an arrest following a July 22 incident that involved abuse and threats along with a resisting arrest charge.
State Public Defending Attorney Stephanie Sato represented Palazzolo, who is scheduled for sentencing in that case on Jan. 25.
Both cases were worked into a global plea deal but sentencing will still be handed down by both judges.
