LIHU‘E — A threat against an officer and his family resulted in a year in jail for a Kapa‘a man Thursday in 5th Circuit Court. Niles Kale Valvieja, 25, was arrested Sept. 8, 2011, for first-degree terroristic threat, second-degree theft
LIHU‘E — A threat against an officer and his family resulted in a year in jail for a Kapa‘a man Thursday in 5th Circuit Court.
Niles Kale Valvieja, 25, was arrested Sept. 8, 2011, for first-degree terroristic threat, second-degree theft and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. He was arrested again in November for contempt of court and parole violations.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Vogt said the state would agree to four months time served with probation. Valvieja pleaded no contest to first-degree terroristic threat on April 5, and the state dropped the remaining charge.
State Deputy Public Defender Stephanie Sato said Valvieja shows remorse and takes responsibility for what he has done. She asked for time served and said jail has enlightened the young man, and that a deferment would help his promising future.
Chief Judge Randal Valenciano denied the motion to defer Valvieja’s acceptance of his no contest plea. It would have allowed the court to removed the felony charge after successfully completing a probation period.
The judge ordered Valvieja to serve one year in jail before starting a five-year probation.
He said that while being arrested for stealing a backpack and other items at Kealia Beach, Valvieja chose not only to threaten the officer, but he also threatened his family.
Valenciano said it would explain things better if Valvieja were intoxicated at the time of the arrest. The incident report said he was swearing at officers and staff of Wilcox Memorial Hospital’s emergency room who were trying to determine his medical status before going to jail.
The judge said that police officers have some expectation of potential risk from offenders, but that threats against their families will elevate that concern. He said Valvieja allegedly threatened retaliation and that others would do it for him.
Valenciano said Valvieja was verbally out of control. Valenciano ordered anger management and said Valvieja must not have any contact with the officer or his family.
