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Waialua man gets 97 months in meth case
The second of two Waialua brothers in a methamphetamine smuggling case was sentenced in federal court to 97 months in prison.
U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright sentenced Joshua Lew, 28, to 97 months in federal prison Monday, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney.
A federal court jury in November convicted Lew and his brother and co-defendant Jacob Drummondo-Farias, 31, of conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Drummondo-Farias was sentenced in February to 324 months in prison. Prosecutors said he was the leader of the conspiracy.
Prosecutors said the brothers agreed with others to distribute meth that was mailed to Honolulu from California. Prosecutors said they orchestrated the shipment of 890 grams of meth, which was intercepted at Honolulu Airport by law enforcement.
Aerial ads to continue despite state ban
An aerial advertising company says it will continue to fly banners over Hawaii skies despite a ban in state law and local ordinances.
An attorney for Aerial Banners North says the company has done nothing illegal. Michael McAllister says Aerial Banners North has a Federal Aviation Administration permit and that federal law is supreme over state law or local ordinances.
KHON-TV reported aerial advertising has been banned by Hawaii law since 2005.
An Aerial Banners North airplane on Memorial Day flew with an American flag and over the weekend was spotted trailing a banner for its website over Kailua, East Oahu and the North Shore.
Marti Townsend of the environmental group Outdoor Circle says the organization received dozens of complaints and will take steps to stop aerial advertising.
Cellphone law nixes court, raises fines
KAILUA-KONA » Changes in Hawaii law for using a cellphone while driving took effect Tuesday.
Sgt. Robert Pauole of the Hawaii Police Department told West Hawaii Today that drivers cited for using a cellphone while driving will no longer be required to make a mandatory court appearance.
He says the court system became congested with violators and that the law was changed to make cellphone texting or talking an infraction.
It’s not all good news for distracted drivers, however.
The fine is increasing to $297. Previous fines under state law for a first offense were at least $100 and not more than $200.
The measure outlaws the use while driving of cellphones, text messaging devices, paging devices, personal digital assistants, laptop computers, video games and digital cameras.
Staff training will close Maui DMVL offices
The Maui Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing announced that all DMVL offices will be closed July 11 for staff training.
The offices will resume their regular customer service July 14.
Due to the closure of the Kahului DMVL office at the Maui Mall Service Center, other offices at the center also will be closed to the public July 11.
Customers with questions may call the DMVL Call Center at 270-7363.
For general DMVL information, visit www.mauicounty.gov/DMVL.