A Kauai circuit judge sentenced a 31-year-old Kapaa man to five years in prison after he stole a check belonging to an elderly woman and forged her signature. 

According to a news release by the prosecutor’s office, the victim hired Shawn Fajardo in June 2012 to help her move while she cared for her ailing husband. 

During Fajardo’s sentencing Wednesday, the victim told Judge Kathleen Watanabe how she thought Fajardo was helping her out of aloha but instead was stealing from her. 

He was charged with second-degree theft.

Last month, he pleaded guilty to numerous theft-related offenses in two other cases, one of which involved a first-degree burglary case where Fajardo broke into a neighbor’s home and stole jewelry. 

Collectively, he stole over $18,000 from his victims. 

Fajardo is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 26 for the two cases. 

He has been incarcerated at Kauai Community Correctional Center since December in lieu of $50,000 bail.