LIHU’E — A Kekaha man plead no contest to a charge of assault in the second degree Monday afternoon in Fifth Circuit Court.
Steven Kyle Ho‘okano, 48, opted to take a plea agreement offered by the state after he was charged with allegedly assaulting a health-care worker while the worker was on duty at Wilcox Medical Center on Sept. 4, 2020.
The crime is a Class C felony.
Because of Ho‘okano’s no-contest plea, he will not be facing a mandatory or extended term of imprisonment. The maximum penalty for Ho‘okano’s charge is five years in prison or a $10,000 fine.
Part of Ho‘okano’s plea agreement includes a four-year sentence to a probation rehabilitation program and up to 30 days in jail with credit for any time served.
Ho‘okano will get credit for time served if he participates in a diagnostic report, remains in compliance with court orders before his sentencing and appears at his sentencing.
Ho‘okano will also be required to pay restitution if it is requested in the case. It was unclear whether the victim will be seeking restitution. He will have to attend an approved anger-management course and follow all of the program’s instructions.
According to court documents, Ho‘okano has previous adult convictions.
Those convictions include theft in the fourth degree (2020), abuse of a family or household member (2015), theft in the fourth degree (2014), and sexual assault in the fourth degree (2014).
In 1996, he was convicted of theft in the second degree, four counts of forgery in the second degree and criminal damage to property in the second degree.
In 1992, he was convicted of criminal contempt of court, and harassment in 1991.
Ho‘okano is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26.
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Jason Blasco, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
