A Kapa‘a man facing a prison term on drug charges missed his sentencing hearing Wednesday in 5th Circuit Court. David N. Vitt, 33, of Kapa‘a was a no-show at a hearing on the motion to consider his request to defer
A Kapa‘a man facing a prison term on drug charges missed his sentencing hearing Wednesday in 5th Circuit Court.
David N. Vitt, 33, of Kapa‘a was a no-show at a hearing on the motion to consider his request to defer a no-contest plea with Judge Katherine Watanabe. If granted, Vitt could avoid lengthy prison time and have the charges taken off his record for successfully completion of probation.
State Deputy Public Defender Stephanie Sato noted that Vitt had followed the court’s instructions when it granted a motion to allow the defendant to leave the jurisdiction for a holiday. She said it was possible that miscommunication with the probation office confused Vitt regarding the likelihood of a continuance at the hearing.
Watanabe recalled the bench warrant and ordered $10,000 bail.
However, the judge granted Sato’s motion to stay the warrant until an April 4 hearing, where Vitt will have a chance to explain his absence.
Vitt was released on bail following his May 19, 2011, arrest on charges of first-degree and third-degree promotion of a harmful drug and three counts of unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.
He entered a no-contest change of plea on Nov. 30.
