Kapa‘a man sentenced for drugs, assault

LIHU‘E — A Kapa‘a was sentenced to 10 years in prison in four cases Thursday in 5th Circuit Court.

Lani Kamakani Kaili Aloha Clark, 29, was sentenced to the 10-year term for a second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug charge, and to a five-year term for unlawful use of drug paraphernalia in the same case.

In another case, Clark was sentenced to five years for drug paraphernalia, and to 30 days for a mutual affray charge. All sentences will run concurrently and Clark will receive credit for approximately 10 months time already served in county jail.

Court appointed defense attorney Caren Dennemeyer said that Clark has made life-changing decisions while in custody and asked the court to help him address an underlying addiction issue. She said his criminal history is matched by a difficult upbringing.

In his statement to the court, Clark said he accepted responsibility for his actions. He asked for a suspended sentence that would result in prison if he failed at probation.

County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Murphy said that the defendant qualified for probation in some of the cases in the plea deal. He recommended the open prison term, however, recommending that the court not impose prison and probation in the same plea agreement.

Chief Judge Randal Valenciano said the defendant exhibited an enlightened state of mind during a passionate statement in taking responsibility for his actions. He said that the court still had to consider that the defendant had plenty of opportunities to have this change of heart in past encounters with the criminal justice system.

After 42 arrests between 2004 and 2012, the defendant was sentenced for two felony convictions. He said the court must consider the criminal history as a determinant factor in the likelihood to reoffend.

The separate cases involved crimes that occurred in January 2011.