Hawaiian Home Lands director confirmed
The state Senate on Friday unanimously confirmed Jobie Masagatani as director of the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
Masagatani, a former deputy director in the department who also had administrative roles at the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs, The Queen’s Health Systems and Kamehameha Schools, has served as interim director since she was appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie in May.
Several on the nine-member commission that oversees the department opposed her confirmation, calling her divisive and claiming that she worked against Native Hawaiian beneficiaries, but she also attracted broad support.
Former armored car driver jailed for thefts
A 68-year-old former armored car driver is going to jail for eight months for stealing more than $165,000 from his deliveries over a 31⁄2-year period.
Steven Dagli pleaded guilty in October to bank theft for stealing $73,000 from Hickam Federal Credit Union’s Hickam Food Court branch. Including thefts from other clients, Dagli admitted stealing $165,360 from February 2008 to August 2011.
He cashed in a 401(k) account to pay back $58,013.
In addition to the jail term, U.S. District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi this week ordered Dagli to pay $107,346 in restitution to his former employer’s insurer.
The president of Security Armored Car and Courier Service of Hawaii said the theft put the jobs of 100 employees in jeopardy, cost the company the Hickam Federal Credit Union account and continues to hurt the business.
Dagli’s lawyer, Salina Althof, said Dagli used the stolen money not to finance a lavish lifestyle, but to pay his rent and help others in financial difficulty.
Man declared guilty of murder
A Kauai jury found a 26-year-old Anahola man guilty Friday of murder for shooting a man six times in 2010 to prevent him from testifying in an armed robbery case.
According to the Kauai County prosecutor’s office, the jury deliberated two days before finding Vicente K. Hilario guilty of first-degree murder, intimidating a witness, retaliation against a witness and bribery in the death of Aureo Arick Moore, 34, in December 2010.
The shooting took place near Anahola Beach Park. Prosecutors said Hilario was trying to prevent Moore from testifying against Hilario’s friend Kyle Akau, involving an armed robbery at the Kapaa Safeway parking lot four months earlier.
Hilario faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
A Kauai jury found a 26-year-old Anahola man guilty Friday of murder for shooting a man six times in 2010 to prevent him from testifying in an armed robbery case.
According to the Kauai County prosecutor’s office, the jury deliberated two days before finding Vicente K. Hilario guilty of first-degree murder, intimidating a witness, retaliation against a witness and bribery in the death of Aureo Arick Moore, 34, in December 2010.
The shooting took place near Anahola Beach Park. Prosecutors said Hilario was trying to prevent Moore from testifying against Hilario’s friend Kyle Akau, involving an armed robbery at the Kapaa Safeway parking lot four months earlier.
Hilario faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
