LIHU‘E — A Koloa man was given probation for possessing unregistered hunting rifles in his vehicle last year. Gerard Kanani Hulama Jr. was in 5th Circuit Court on Tuesday for sentencing in a case dating back to July 2010. Despite
LIHU‘E — A Koloa man was given probation for possessing unregistered hunting rifles in his vehicle last year.
Gerard Kanani Hulama Jr. was in 5th Circuit Court on Tuesday for sentencing in a case dating back to July 2010. Despite having trouble with his statements, the court agreed to keep Hulama from spending more time in jail.
Chief Judge Randal Valenciano of the 5th Circuit said Hulama presented inconsistent statements in the police report, the pre-sentencing diagnostics interview and at the court hearing Tuesday.
In the sentencing report, Valenciano said Hulama expressed he was wrongfully arrested.
Deputy County Prosecuting Attorney Melinda Mendes said Hulama has prior convictions for family or household member abuse in 1999 and 2003.
She noted that the arrest report states Hulama admitted to knowing about the presence of the older rifle and that it belonged to him.
Mendes recommended probation with three days jail, in addition to time served.
Deputy Public Defender Stephanie Sato emphasized that Hulama has already served 87 days in jail.
She said he remains gainfully employed and performed well under supervised release.
The judge agreed and said five-years’ probation was appropriate in this first felony offense on two firearms charges in the plea.
He was also sentenced to probation, time served and a substance abuse assessment for the petty misdemeanor marijuana charge.
Valenciano said he would take a chance on Hulama because he is working.
Hulama, 32, was arrested July 16, 2010, for having a loaded firearm in his vehicle on a highway, two counts of ownership of a prohibited weapon and third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug.
A changed plea was entered on Sept. 22, 2011. Hulama pleaded no contest to third-degree promoting a detrimental drug, a petty misdemeanor, a place to keep a loaded firearm, a class B felony, and ownership or possession of a firearm prohibited by a person convicted of certain crimes, a class C felony.
There was no mandatory minimum sentence, but Hulama faced a possible extended sentence term of 20 years on weapons possession and 10 years on the ammunition charge.
