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COURTESY KAUAI COUNTY
Johnathan Niehaus
A judge sentenced a Kauai man to five years in prison for forging his father’s checks.
Johnathan Niehaus, 28, of Kapaa, was sentenced Wednesday by Judge Kathleen N.A. Watanabe, the Kauai County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
Prosecutors said Niehaus stole three of his father’s personal checks in May 2013 and wrote them out to himself.
Niehaus confessed to spending $7,000 from the checks to travel with his then-girlfriend and buy prescription drugs, prosecutors said.
Police arrested Niehaus in June.
Niehaus was found guilty of forgery in the second degree and third-degree theft.
Watanabe also ordered him to pay full restitution to First Hawaiian Bank.
“This individual took advantage of his own family members and those in a position of trust to him. And he did so repeatedly,” said Prosecuting Attorney Justin F. Kollar.
