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Sentencing delayed in fatal hit-and-run case

STAR-ADVERTISER / AUG. 7

Chantel Andrade, who killed a 25-yr-old motorcyclist in a crash on the the H-1 freeway in April is taken to Sheriffs’ booking station in Kakaako on August 7.

A state judge has postponed the sentencing for admitted hit-and-run driver Chantel Andrade to give her the opportunity to complete substance abuse treatment.

Andrade, 40, was scheduled to get sentenced Wednesday for leaving the scene of a fatal traffic accident and for operating a vehicle without a valid driver license.

She pleaded guilty to the charges in November and is asking the court to give her the opportunity to avoid conviction by deferring her pleas.

The prosecutor says he will ask for the maximum 10-year prison term for the hit-and-run charge.

Circuit Judge Dean Ochiai postponed the sentencing and instead scheduled a hearing for September to get an update on Andrade’s substance abuse treatment progress and to set a new sentencing date.

Defense lawyer Donovan Odo told Ochiai that Andrade is faring well in residential treatment, and expects to transition into outpatient treatment in April and could get clinically discharged in October.

Motorcyclist Keith Jantoc died last April when a sport utility vehicle struck him on the town-bound lanes of the H-1 Freeway near the Kunia on ramp. Jantoc, 25, of Mililani, died from blunt force injury to the head, neck and torso. He was wearing a helmet.

Honolulu police later found Andrade’s full-size SUV abandoned in parking lot near the Home Depot Pearl City store with front end damage and motorcycle parts stuck in its grille.

14 responses to “Sentencing delayed in fatal hit-and-run case”

  1. mnsato says:

    Judge…what are you thinking?

    • st1d says:

      really. there are substance abuse programs in lockup. let her complete the program there.

      • HawaiiCheeseBall says:

        Naw the treatment programs inside are just not as good as community treatment. Its just a fact. Now it sure seems like the judge is leaning toward a deferral, if not he would have sentenced her today. Hard to say, she is smart, doing all the things she needs to do to show the judge that she is worthy of a deferral. To me, getting treatment is great, but the lady killed somebody then left the scene. Incarceration seems appropriate.

      • allie says:

        agree.Judge is entirely worthless. I feel sorry for the aggrieved family.

  2. mikethenovice says:

    SUV are still responsible for avoiding a vehicle accident with a dangerous vehicle such as a motorcycle.

  3. Happy_024 says:

    That’s simply wrong using substance abuse treatment to avoid sentencing, she needs to go to jail for negligent homicide, a person died because of her actions. We should establish fixed sentencing guidelines for various crime. Where is Judge Dredge ?

  4. mikethenovice says:

    Actually, I think that a motorcycle or a moped should be a comparable neglegent with the vehicle that strikes them. For the simple fact that a two wheeled vehicle is exposed to the elements of an accident. Had he been in a four wheeled vehicle, he still would be alive, because a four wheeled vehicle has more to protect the operator.

  5. mikethenovice says:

    Ride the bus if you are going to do drugs.

  6. SueH says:

    What does her substance abuse treatment have to do with the sentencing process for the hit and run crime??? The judge could sentence her for the hit and run, then defer having her serve that sentence until her little charade for “substance abuse treatment” is over. THEN she goes to prison! Slam dunk. Putting off sentencing is giving her a benefit she doesn’t deserve, nor does the victim.

  7. tho808 says:

    rehab is for quitters.

  8. Roadalii says:

    If the given is there are no drugs to be consumed while incarcerated. Then sending Ms Andrade to jail immediately should be of help with her substance abuse problem.

  9. RKC808 says:

    She should be in jail now for hit and run and running away from her court date. Whats wrong with these judicial people. How would you people feel if this happened to one of your loved ones.

  10. kekelaward says:

    So what? She doesn’t need to be there for sentencing. She can start her sentence after she completes the treatment. Hey, Ochiai, she killed somebody, then fled the scene and tried to get away.

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