lfujimoto@mauinews.com
WAILUKU – A Kahului man, described as the “linchpin” in an illegal sports betting operation, was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and was placed on four years’ probation Thursday.
Paul Vargas, 70, had $2,200 in cash and his 2015 Dodge Ram truck forfeited to the state.
The money and vehicle were seized when Maui Police Department officers executed search warrants for Vargas and his property in 2015, said Deputy Prosecutor Mike Kagami.
He said betting sheets and other gambling records were found in the truck.
“During the MPD operation, Mr. Vargas was seen operating this truck while engaged in these gambling activities,” Kagami said in asking for the truck to be forfeited.
WAILUKU – A Haiku man was sentenced Tuesday to a 20-year prison term for manslaughter in the killing of a man five years ago near Kaa Point in Kahului. Hea
lfujimoto@mauinews.com
WAILUKU – A Wailuku man was taken into custody to complete a six-month jail term for illegally restraining a woman who said she was beaten and threatened while he held her captive in his truck.
Jordan Ware, 34, also was placed on four years’ probation when he was sentenced Thursday.
Originally charged with kidnapping, he had pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of first-degree unlawful imprisonment of the woman on July 22, 2016. Charges of felony abuse, abuse and interfering with reporting of an emergency were dismissed in exchange for his plea.
Speaking in court Thursday, the woman said, “I had to put in a lot of work to heal from the torture that Jordan Ware put me through.”
The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photos
The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photos
The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photos
First photo: Graduates pose with (from left) 2nd Circuit Judge Peter Cahill, Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu, Mayor Michael Victorino and 2nd Circuit Chief Judge Richard Bissen (far right) after the 73rd Maui Drug Court graduation ceremony Thursday afternoon. The graduates, who completed the program of intensive treatment and supervision, are (from left next to Victorino) Ikaika Vierra, Randal Rodrigues, Dennis Rieta, Ka’ipo Vida, Shane Carey, Dylan Kepa and Emmanuel Dickson.
Second photo: Graduates Randal Rodrigues (right) and Shane Carey are congratulated by friends and family members after the 73rd Maui Drug Court graduation ceremony Thursday afternoon in the courtroom of 2nd Circuit Chief Judge Richard Bissen, who serves as the Drug Court judge. Seven defendants had criminal charges dismissed or periods of probation ended early when they successfully completed the progr
lfujimoto@mauinews.com
WAILUKU A man convicted of burglarizing two homes and illegally possessing a shotgun and drugs was sentenced Tuesday to an 18-month jail term as part of four years’ probation.
In sentencing Jacob Baylosis, 38, of Makawao, 2nd Circuit Judge Peter Cahill acknowledged comments by a couple who had more than $70,000 in property stolen from their home in Haiku while they hid in a closet in August 2018.
After at first not being able to purchase homeowners insurance following the burglary, the couple said they are paying $2,000 a year more for insurance. The husband said he lost “a lot of things you couldn’t put a price on” when his laptop was stolen. “If there’s a way to get some restitution, that would help,” he said, appearing by videoconference for the hearing.