Pflueger to be sentenced over Ka Loko Dam deaths

Retired car deal James Pflue­ger will be sentenced in state court Wednesday for his role in the deaths of seven people on Kauai in 2006.

Pflueger, 88, was originally charged with seven counts of manslaughter. However, in a deal with the state, his company, Pacific 808 Properties, pleaded no contest last year to the manslaughter charges, and Pflue­ger pleaded no contest to felony reckless endangering.

As part of the deal, Pflue­ger agreed to accept a sentence of five years of probation. The state can also ask the judge to impose conditions that include up to a year in jail, community service and a fine. Pacific 808 Properties will pay the maximum $50,000 fine for each death for a total $350,000, which will go toward a dam inspection and safety program.

The seven victims were swept to their deaths when the Ka Loko Dam failed, sending hundreds of millions of gallons of water downstream.

The state had accused Pflue­ger of causing the breach by filling in the dam’s spillway.