A former probation officer pleaded guilty in Circuit Court on Monday to felony theft and forgery.
Freeman Sasao, 56, a former Circuit Court probation officer, was charged with theft and felony offenses in May.
From July 1, 2011, through July 9, 2013, Sasao collected and kept 11 payments from various probationers who had been assigned to him. Sasao then forged receipts to credit the payments to the various probationers, according to Attorney General Doug Chin.
He faces up to five years in prison and a $20,000 fine on each charge. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 3.
No charges filed in skateboarder’s death
Police traffic investigators determined that a 43-year-old Ewa Beach man was "skitching," hitching a ride from a moving vehicle while riding his skateboard, when he fell and was killed. David Pantohan died June 10 at the Queen’s Medical Center. Lt. Carlene Lau, Traffic Division spokeswoman, said Monday that witnesses reported Pantohan was holding onto a truck when he fell on Ala Loa Street in Ewa Beach at 12:38 a.m. June 9. No criminal charges were filed in the case.
Two other Oahu deaths have been caused by skitching:
» On April 17, 2013, Reid Krucky, 16, was killed when he fell while riding a skateboard being towed by a moped. He hit his head on Kalanipuu Street in Hawaii Kai, police said.
» On Aug. 20, 2013, Alan Danielson, 18, was being pulled by a car while riding a skateboard on Apapane Street in Kaneohe when he lost control and fell, striking his head. He died at a hospital three days later.
Severe drought expected to hit the Big Island
Weather experts say severe drought will spread to Hawaii island as summer continues.
A wet spring has kept the island from experiencing severe drought conditions like those in parts of Maui and Kauai, West Hawaii Today reported Friday.
Some areas of Hawaii County are listed as abnormally dry by the National Drought Monitor.
National Weather Service hydrologist Kevin Kodama said that as El Nino progresses, Hawaii island will likely develop dry weather similar to other counties in the state.
"I’ve seen it worse," he said, "but I would imagine as time goes on and we just stay in the warmth and persistent trades that things will get even worse."
He said this isn’t likely to end with the wet season, which runs from October to April.
Brush fire burns half an acre near homeless
Maui fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of a brush fire in an area used by homeless campers that broke out Sunday in the Puamana area of West Maui.
There were no injuries or structures threatened by the fire, which was reported at 2:51 p.m. Sunday.
Lahaina firefighters arrived at 3 p.m. and found a half-acre brush fire on the Lahaina side of Hokiokio Place, mauka of Honoapiilani Highway. Crews were able to contain the fire by 3:34 p.m.
The Maui Fire Department is also investigating two suspicious cane fires in Paia last week. One fire burned about four acres Friday night near the Hana Highway and Paia minibypass. The other burned one acre Thursday just east of Baldwin Park.
