Iosefa pleads no contest to drunk driving charge
University of Hawaii running back Joey Iosefa pleaded no contest to a charge of operation of a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant in District Court on Monday.
District Court Judge Alvin Nishimura fined Iosefa $300 for the OVUII charge and $212 in court fees and costs. Iosefa’s license was revoked for a year beginning Nov. 12 He also will complete an alcohol assessment and attend 14 hours of alcohol-education classes.
Iosefa may apply to install an interlock in his car, a system that will not start the ignition if traces of alcohol are found on his breath.
“I met with Joey earlier, we talked about it and went through all the options, and he decided he would take responsibility for this,” said R. Patrick McPherson, Iosefa’s attorney. “He wanted to get this behind him, do what the he needs to do to comply with the court’s orders, make sure he get graduates on time.”
McPherson added: “He’s a good kid who made a mistake.”
Iosefa was arrested on Oct. 12 on a drunken-driving suspicion. A breath analysis estimated his blood-alcohol level at 0.15, nearly twice Hawaii’s legal limit while operating a vehicle. Iosefa was released after posting a $500 bond.
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Iosefa was suspended for three UH football games, a punishment that ended following the Warriors’ 35-14 loss to Utah State this past Saturday.
He has been cleared to practice with the team this week and participate in Saturday’s road game against Colorado State.