LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Paroling Authority has determined that convicted sex offender Nelson Olshefski should serve at least 16 years of his 20-year sentence for the 2008 rape of a 14-year old girl, county officials said in a news release
LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Paroling Authority has determined that convicted sex offender Nelson Olshefski should serve at least 16 years of his 20-year sentence for the 2008 rape of a 14-year old girl, county officials said in a news release Wednesday.
On Jan. 8, 2008, Olshefski, then 32, took the family friend to a spare bedroom and sexually assaulted her while his girlfriend and children slept nearby, the release states. The girl reported the assault to her friends and family, who then contacted police.
Olshefski was convicted of first-degree sexual assault, a class A felony, and sentenced to the maximum of 20 years imprisonment on Oct. 13, 2010 in front of 5th Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe.
On Oct. 24, 2011, the Hawai‘i Paroling Authority held a hearing to set Olshefski’s minimum term of imprisonment, the release states. The Paroling Authority took argument from both the state, represented by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Arin, and the defense, represented by Rosa Flores.
“Nelson Olshefski betrayed the trust of the entire [victim’s] family by his actions, and irrevocably damaged the trust and spirit of a young girl” stated Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Arin. “How much time is the crime worth, when it’s something that will affect the victim for her entire lifetime?”
Arin also noted Olshefski’s prior criminal record, including convictions for theft, family abuse, and criminal property damage, which displays a pattern of behavior in which he shows little regard for others, the release states. A letter from the victim was also read to the Paroling Authority, which explained in detail how the assault negatively impacted her life.
The defense argued for leniency, citing that Olshefski took responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty to the offense and apologizing to the victim and her family, the release states. Flores also stated that Olshefski had no prior felony convictions, which she argued should entitle him to a reduction in minimum term.
After the hearing, the Paroling Authority issued an order setting Olshefski’s minimum term at 16 years, expiring on Sept. 6, 2025 just before his 50th birthday.
“It is encouraging to see the Paroling Authority taking a strong stance in protecting the community from sexual predators like Olshefski” Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho said in the release. “Although no prison sentence can fully restore the victim of this atrocity, we hope that this extended term will provide her with some level of comfort after such a terrible experience.”
