‘Stop blaming everyone else’

LIHUE — An Anahola man was sentenced to five years in prison for second-degree theft on Thursday in 5th Circuit Court

Nolan K. Keola-Kaleimamahu, 26, said his time in jail on the offense was an opportunity to reflect on his life. It has been one of self-pity and blaming others for his circumstances, he said.

“I put myself in those situations and chose to be with the wrong people,” Keola-Kaleimamahu said. “I am looking at the big picture and stop blaming everyone else.”

Chief Judge Randal Valenciano said there wasn’t a possibility for probation. The court agreed to sentence according to the no-contest change of plea agreement on May 19.

The agreement calls for a five-year prison sentence with a mandatory minimum of one year and eight months before becoming eligible for parole. The date of the theft was Dec. 31, 2013.

“It is because of your criminal record and the circumstances here that you put yourself in,” Valenciano said.

County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Melinda Mendes said the plea agreement was clear cut.

“I will save my remarks for the state parole board,” Mendes said.

Mendes asked the court to hold Keola-Kaleimamahu jointly and severally liable for the payment of restitution to the victim in the amount of $375.

Court-appointed defense attorney Warren Perry said the plea agreement and mandatory minimum did not give him much more to request in favor of the defendant. He asked the court to consider the original restitution amount request.

“This defendant meets the legal definition of career criminal, and prison is the only sentence that will adequately protect the community from him and his actions,” said County Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar. “This defendant is still young enough to make a change in his life, and we hope the period of incarceration he now faces will cause him to reflect on that.”