Drunken driver
who killed 3
gets 20 years

Steinseifer gets the state's
harshest penalty ever in a
drunken-driving case

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

A circuit judge today sentenced a drunken driver who killed three people to 20 years with a recommendation of no parole, giving the harshest sentence the state has ever seen for such a crime.

The prosecution had asked for life for James Steinseifer, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter for killing two sisters and their 1-year-old niece Jan. 7 on Old Farrington Road in Kapolei when his convertible slammed into their car. Under the plea agreement, Steinseifer agreed not to ask for probation during sentencing.

City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle called today's sentence "reasonable." Carlisle had asked Judge James Aiona Jr. for the life sentence to send a strong message to the community about drinking and driving.

Aiona said he tried to find a balance in his sentencing.

The family of the victims had sent written testimony to the court asking for a 20-year sentence rather than life. Charges were bumped up from negligent homicide to manslaughter for Steinseifer, 33, of Mililani, who had been convicted of drunken driving 12 years earlier in Minnesota.

Victims were Nicole Nuuanu-Dudoit, 22; Carina Nuuanu, 24; and their 1-year-old niece Laakea Nuuanu.

Deputy Public Defender David Hayakawa said it was the stiffest sentence ever given in the state for a drunken driving case.

The parole board now will decide whether it should follow Aiona's recommendation of 20 years without parole for Steinseifer, who had drunk the equivalent of 14 beers.

Aiona said the amount of alcohol "boggled his mind."