LIHU‘E — A former state representative pleaded no contest to illegally receiving rocks from a historic preserve and heiau site in 2011. Roland Diaz Sagum III, 58, of Kalaheo, changed his plea Tuesday to third-degree theft in 5th Circuit Court.
LIHU‘E — A former state representative pleaded no contest to illegally receiving rocks from a historic preserve and heiau site in 2011.
Roland Diaz Sagum III, 58, of Kalaheo, changed his plea Tuesday to third-degree theft in 5th Circuit Court. The misdemeanor charge was reduced from the original class C felony charge of second-degree theft.
The state was represented at the hearing by County Second Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Vogt. She read the charges in open court that Sagum and a co-defendant obtained unauthorized control over the rocks in value exceeding $300 from Kukui‘ula Development Company on June 27, 2011.
Sagum, represented by private defense attorney Craig De Costa, read a prepared statement saying he was not aware that his wall contained rocks from the development site.
The rocks did not come from a heiau or the park, but some did come from the development parcel.
Sagum said he was changing his plea because he now has a grandson. He worried that the trial process might have an effect on his health.
Sagum was the state representative for Kaua‘i’s 16th District (Koloa to Ni‘ihau) from 2006 to 2010. He said the incident was not treated fairly in the media by implying he received rocks from a heiau.
Sagum was arraigned on March 12. His trial date of July 15 was removed from the calendar, as was a hearing on a defense motion to dismiss the case.
The co-defendant in the case, Lealiki Koli, was arraigned on April 2 for second-degree theft and second-degree criminal property damage. He has not entered a change of plea and has a jury trial date of July 15.
Judge Kathleen Watanabe set the sentencing date for June 26.
