Californian imprisoned for meth scheme

A leader of a ring that conspired to smuggle methamphetamine from San Diego to Hawaii has been sentenced in federal court to 28 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Honolulu said Tuesday.

Jesse Wade Pelkey, 38, of Imperial Beach, Calif., was sentenced Thursday by Senior District Judge Helen Gillmor. In September, Pelkey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, according to a news release from Florence T. Nakakuni, U.S. attorney for Hawaii.

Nakakuni said in a statement that evidence presented in court showed that Pelkey was an organizer and leader of a methamphetamine conspiracy that operated in San Diego and Hawaii and involved five or more members. Six people in all were convicted.

Pelkey was found responsible for the distribution of 424.9 grams of pure methamphetamine and 4,989 grams of generic methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

MAUI

Former police officer jailed on sexual assault charges

WAILUKU >> A former Maui police officer suspected of sexually exposing himself to women and a child in public has been sentenced to 60 days in jail.

John Salomon, 41, was sentenced Friday after pleading no contest to sexual assault charges in connection with incidents that took place May 30, 2015, the Maui News reported.

Police said they received several calls about a man exposing himself and touching himself inappropriately at various Pukalani parking lots. Salomon was a three-year veteran of the police force when he was tied to the crimes.

Salomon apologized to the victim’s families during his sentencing and said he felt “disgusted and ashamed.”

“I am remorseful for exposing myself and wish I could take it back. However, I cannot. I can only learn from my mistakes,” he said. “Regardless of whatever mental issues I have, there were other ways of dealing with my stress instead of turning to alcohol. I failed to seek out the proper help, and put all of you through a nightmare.”

Circuit Judge Richard Bissen said he agreed with letters from Salomon’s supporters saying he’s “a good man,” but he still denied the defendant’s request to keep the convictions off his record.

Bissen said Salomon had gone to great lengths to ensure he didn’t get caught, “from wearing his sunglasses to covering his license plate.” He also said Salomon was selective in choosing his victims.

“Every time a male figure got close, he drove off. He only exposed himself to women or girls or minors. This isn’t random,” Bissen said.

The judge also ordered Salomon to serve one year of probation and receive sex offender treatment.

Salomon’s attorney, David Sereno, said his client is already participating in sex offender treatment, as well as alcohol treatment, and taking medication for bipolar disorder.

Sereno also said a pending case for Salomon’s June 2015 arrest on suspicion of drunken driving is expected to be resolved next week.