LIHUE — A Kapaa man accused of beating up a drug dealer and taking his money was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday after a Kauai judge revoked his probation. Fifth Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Watanabe sentenced Robert Wills,
LIHUE — A Kapaa man accused of beating up a drug dealer and taking his money was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday after a Kauai judge revoked his probation.
Fifth Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Watanabe sentenced Robert Wills, 36, to five years in one case and five years in another.
Wills racked up a number of HOPE violations in January of this year, according to a press release. He tested positive for methamphetamine and denied using, the release said. He admitted to consuming alcohol, being arrested for assault, smoking an oxycodone pill, drinking a detox drink prior to a urine test, and failing to attend 12 step meetings, the release said. He also failed to show up for a urine test and failed to maintain contact with HOPE staff.
Wills’ attorneys, Warren Perry and Rosa Flores, argued that he should be given a chance at inpatient treatment. When attempts were made to place Wills in treatment last year, he refused to go and stated that he wanted to stay on Kauai and take care of his family.
The state argued that the violent nature of these offenses, combined with Wills unwillingness to comply with the terms and conditions of his probation, merited a prison sentence.
Watanabe said she was not sure what more could have been done for Wills and that she had an obligation to keep the community safe prior to sentencing him to the 10-year prison term.
Wills had been in custody since earlier this month when the state filed motions for revocation of probation in both cases.
Wills was convicted of second-degree assault, a class C felony, and second-degree robbery, a class B felony, for an incident that occurred on March 27, 2014. He pleaded no contest in August 2014 to beating a man in a beach park restroom and taking $60 from him.
He was sentenced to 18 months in jail and placed on HOPE probation. He was released from jail on Sept. 21, 2015.
Just a month later, his probation was revoked on both cases after testing positive for methamphetamine.
His probation was modified and he was placed back on HOPE probation.
Robbery in the second degree is punishable by up to 10 years of incarceration and assault in the second degree is punishable by up to five years of incarceration.
