LIHU‘E — Lancelot Zachariah Johnson on Monday was inducted into Hawai‘i’s Opportunity Probation with Enforcement program as a new probation. Johnson, 35, of Kapa‘a, appeared Monday before Fifth Circuit Court Chief Judge Randal Valenciano. A HOPE probation officer and a
LIHU‘E — Lancelot Zachariah Johnson on Monday was inducted into Hawai‘i’s Opportunity Probation with Enforcement program as a new probation.
Johnson, 35, of Kapa‘a, appeared Monday before Fifth Circuit Court Chief Judge Randal Valenciano. A HOPE probation officer and a mental health specialist were present to affirm Johnson as a candidate for the program.
HOPE is an incentive program to reduce probation violations and avoid jail with classes and other requirements that are more strict than the standard. It is considered a last-chance probation and to fail would mean being re-sentenced to the full-term or to a new probation period.
Deputy Public Defender Christian Enright, standing in for Stephanie Sato, confirmed the request on behalf of Johnson and agreed to prepare the order for the court.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Murphy was present for the state of Hawai‘i. He had urged the court to revoke Johnson’s probation after the auto detail specialist violated terms of his parole.
The court granted Sato’s motion to modify terms of probation on Nov. 8, with tentative approval to join the HOPE program, and after Johnson was accepted to the Mental Health Kokua Group Home.
The court terminated Johnson’s 90-day commitment to the Department of Health’s Mahelona facility after a state mental health officer stated that Kokua had space for Johnson.
The court ruled that Johnson was fit to stand trial but was substantially impaired at the time of his probation violations, and based on letters from a three panel of physicians, was found unable to intentionally or knowingly violate the terms of his probation.
Johnson was sentenced to five years probation in 2009 for first-degree assault. The sentence requires ongoing mental health treatment.
The incident was described as a “thwarted murder-suicide attempt” by prosecutors. The defense described it as a thwarted suicide attempt that was stopped by his girlfriend who was injured in the process.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or by emailing tlaventure@ thegardenisland.com.
