LIHUE — A Hanapepe woman was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday in 5th Circuit Court. Shana Lee Tehada, 31, requested a five-year prison term rather than be considered for probation. She was grateful for the opportunity at
LIHUE — A Hanapepe woman was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday in 5th Circuit Court.
Shana Lee Tehada, 31, requested a five-year prison term rather than be considered for probation. She was grateful for the opportunity at Drug Court, and said she learned a great deal there but preferred to work on her drug treatment in prison instead of through an outpatient program, where outside distractions can sway her.
“I hope you understand what doing an open five means?” said Judge Kathleen Watanabe. “It is not often that a defendant does not ask for probation.”
State Deputy Public Defender Samuel Jajich said Tehada did well with inpatient treatment. Unfortunately, bad relationships with men affected her in a negative way and resulted in her failing outpatient treatment, he said.
Tehada said he was concerned that having failed Drug Court, she would not be able to comply with the more strict criteria of HOPE (Hawaii’s Opportunity Probation with Enforcement) for close supervision of high-risk offenders.
Tehada was placed in Drug Court on March 13 but had it terminated Sept. 24 for underlying drug, marijuana and electric gun charges.
Watanabe sentenced Tehada to five years for unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, 30 days for third-degree detrimental drug, and one year for possession of an electric gun. All times will run concurrently with credit for time served.
