LIHU‘E — A Kapa‘a man was sentenced to 15 months in jail and five years’ probation on drug and weapon charges Steven Charles Henriques Jr., 38, was sentenced on Thursday by Chief Judge Randal Valenciano of the 5th Circuit. The
LIHU‘E — A Kapa‘a man was sentenced to 15 months in jail and five years’ probation on drug and weapon charges
Steven Charles Henriques Jr., 38, was sentenced on Thursday by Chief Judge Randal Valenciano of the 5th Circuit. The defendant was brought over from Honolulu, where he was being held on other charges.
The judge said Henriques had not performed well on probation in the past. But the judge said he would allow that chance again with a more structured approach and placed the defendant in the Hawai‘i Opportunity Probation with Enforcement, or HOPE, program.
HOPE probation allows for immediate sanctions for violations of terms, with a maximum allowable jail time of three months in Henriques’ case. Once the resources or alternatives for violations of probation terms are exhausted, then it is possible to be re-sentenced to an open jail term.
With stacked sentencing rather than concurrent sentencing, and extended terms for the felony charges, Henriques could face a possible 60-year term of imprisonment if probation fails.
Deputy Public Defender John Calma represented Henriques.
He reached a plea deal with the prosecution last November.
Calma said Henriques deserved probation as someone who has worked hard to turn his life around.
County Deputy Prosecutor Melinda Mendes recommended the maximum 18-month jail sentence allowed, with probation for a prior felony conviction and violation of probation. She recommended other programs related to the arrests in 2010, when he discharged a 32-caliber pistol and injured himself on a public road. Henriques was also charged with being in possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.
The other charges brought probation, fines and jail time that will run concurrently. They include reckless endangerment, second-degree attempted escape, first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, driving with a suspended license, no motor vehicle insurance, a false certificate and criminal contempt of court.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
