LIHU‘E — A 5th Circuit Court judge disqualified himself from the state’s case against Roland Sagum, after he was arraigned Thursday on second-degree theft charges. Sagum pleaded not guilty to the class C felony, for allegedly receiving rocks from a
LIHU‘E — A 5th Circuit Court judge disqualified himself from the state’s case against Roland Sagum, after he was arraigned Thursday on second-degree theft charges.
Sagum pleaded not guilty to the class C felony, for allegedly receiving rocks from a historic preserve and heiau site in the summer of 2011.
Chief Judge Randal Valenciano said he would allow the defendant to be arraigned, however, as his court had a conflict of interest in this case, the jury trial setting would need to be conducted in another courtroom.
The matter was set for continued arraignment and plea and jury trial setting before Judge Kathleen Watanabe at 9 a.m. on March 11.
Sagum was the state representative for Kaua‘i’s 16th District (Koloa to Ni‘ihau) from 2006 to 2010. He is represented in the criminal case by private defense attorney Craig De Costa.
The state was represented by County Second Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Vogt.
