LIHU‘E — The man arrested for first-degree negligent homicide for allegedly causing a Lawa‘i traffic accident last month that killed Glenn Doi was earlier sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of third-degree promotion of a dangerous
LIHU‘E — The man arrested for first-degree negligent homicide for allegedly causing a Lawa‘i traffic accident last month that killed Glenn Doi was earlier sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, police and state court records show.
Craig De Costa, who at the time was a county deputy prosecuting attorney handling part of William Corbett’s case before 5th Circuit Judge Clifford Nakea, said it involved crystal methamphetamine.
Corbett, 61, was driving a Kaua‘i Coffee Company delivery van Feb. 11 when he apparently crossed the center line of Kaumuali‘i Highway in Lawa‘i, hitting head-on the Ford Mustang driven by Doi, 59, of Kalaheo, according to an earlier county press release.
Corbett was arrested by Kaua‘i Police Department officers March 16 on suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide and driving under the influence of an intoxicant, KPD announced the day after the arrest.
In 2000, Corbett was arrested for third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and unlawful use of or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, state court records show.
He entered a not-guilty plea in May 2000. The case was continued numerous times before Nakea, and then in August 2001 Corbett in a plea agreement pleaded no contest and was found guilty of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.
The other two charges were dropped.
The charge he was found guilty of is a class C felony. He was initially given five years probation and 90 days in prison with credit for time already served, state court records show.
But after he failed to show for a re-sentencing hearing in September 2002, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, and bail was $10,000, according to court records.
At the April 2004 hearing on return on the bench warrant and re-sentencing, he was sentenced to five years in prison with credit for time already served, court records show.
Corbett is on leave from Kaua‘i Coffee Company, pending investigation, said Linda Howe, spokesperson for Alexander & Baldwin, parent company of Kaua‘i Coffee.
She did not answer a question about whether Kaua‘i Coffee officials knew about Corbett’s felony conviction prior to his being hired.
“Our entire organization continues to be saddened by the loss which the Doi family has endured,” said Wayne Katayama, Kaua‘i Coffee president and general manager, in an e-mail forwarded by Howe.
“We have been and will continue to cooperate fully with authorities who are investigating this matter,” Katayama said.
Corbett has yet to have his date in court on the charges of first-degree negligent homicide and driving under the influence of an intoxicant.
