LIHUE — A Hanalei man will serve time in jail and probation for taking sexual liberties with a client who sought his energy healing services. Samuel C. McFadden, 63, appeared in custody for sentencing on Thursday in 5th Circuit Court.
LIHUE — A Hanalei man will serve time in jail and probation for taking sexual liberties with a client who sought his energy healing services.
Samuel C. McFadden, 63, appeared in custody for sentencing on Thursday in 5th Circuit Court. Following a three-day jury trial on Nov. 20, 2013, a jury found him guilty of the second-degree sexual assault a 26-year-old woman at Anini Beach in August 2013.
Chief Judge Randal Valenciano sentenced McFadden to five years with the 5th Circuit’s HOPE (Hawaii’s Opportunity Probation with Enforcement), a program with close supervision for high-risk offenders. In addition he must serve a 15-month jail sentence with credit for time served.
The reason the defendant did not get the straight prison sentence was in part for the lack of a criminal record, Valenciano said. He must still undergo sex offender treatment and register with the state sex offender registry.
“I am sorry for the victim who has suffered from my stupidity,” said McFadden in his statement to the court.
State Deputy Public Defender Samuel Jajich asked the court to consider a sentence of probation with time served. McFadden has been in custody for eight months.
McFadden was an energy healer who became lost in a self-believed ability to heal people, Jajich said. He is now pursuing other work and re-connecting with his faith.
County Deputy Prosecuting Lisa Arin said the defendant’s statement at trial and throughout the proceedings were that he didn’t do anything wrong. Arin asked the court for the maximum 10-year prison sentence for the safety of the community.
“The defendant failed to acknowledge his wrongdoing, failed to express any true empathy for his victim, and thus he is likely to reoffend if not required to successfully complete the sex offender treatment program while still incarcerated,” Arin said.
At trial, Arin said the defendant held himself out as a person offering to help the victim during a difficult time when she was vulnerable. The victim testified during the trial and Arin said it was obvious to the courtroom she suffered trauma from the violation.
