WAILUKU -- An inmate was arrested this morning during a major search at the Maui prison involving some 80 law enforcement officers. 80 officers search Maui jail:
By Gary Kubota, Star-Bulletin
'Ice' pipe found; inmate arrestedThe shakedown occurred as a result of continuing reports of alleged drug use at the facility, Maui prison warden Albert Murashige said.
Murashige said no drugs or weapons were found at the facility, but officers confiscated a pipe believed to be used in smoking crystal methamphetamine. He was unsure whether the inmate had been charged.
Murashige said items confiscated during the search also included homemade tattoo machines.
In the past couple of years, a number of Maui prison guards have been charged with promoting drugs, including crystal meth.
Some have been convicted.
Murashige said he feels the shakedown shows a commitment by the state Department of Public Safety to clean the prisons of any contraband, including drugs.
"We need to maintain a safe environment for both our inmates and staff," he said.
Public Safety director Keith Kaneshiro and his deputy Roger Lau were at the prison assisting the shakedown, which started at 2:30 a.m. today. The prison holds about 400 inmates. Most of those incarcerated at the facility are regarded as less violent and are serving short prison terms.
Murashige said law enforcement officials conducting the raid included state sheriffs, narcotics division officers, internal affairs officers, corrections officers from Honolulu, and canine units from Oahu and Maui. Three Maui guards, a former guard and an inmate were arrested in July after an investigation into drugs and contraband at the prison.
Modafferi pleads not guilty in drug case
Attorney Gary Modafferi pleaded not guilty this morning to drug and firearm charges and is scheduled to begin trial in Federal Court Feb. 18 before U.S. District Judge David Ezra.Modafferi, 38, a former deputy city prosecutor, was indicted last week for possessing and distributing crystal methamphetamine. He also was charged with possessing a firearm while being a user of and being addicted to "ice".
The charges involve distributing one prescription sleeping pill and about a half a gram of "ice" to a government informant.Michael Green, Modafferi's attorney, said he would ask the court to disqualify the U.S. Attorney's office, saying some U.S. attorneys may become material witnesses.
He said attorneys may have to testify to when the informant began working for the government. If the informant was using "ice" as part of her government role, the government would be allowing an illegal activity.
U.S. Magistrate Francis Yamashita this morning also said he would decide if Modafferi could serve as an attorney for his clients.
One client, Galen Choy, charged with allegedly conspiring to possess drugs, said he wanted Modafferi to represent him, despite a government attempt to remove him from his cases.
Vets will remember their fallen comrades
Veterans will gather from 11 p.m. to midnight tomorrow in memory of comrades who died in the Korean and Vietnam wars.The tribute will take place at the Korea/Vietnam memorial on the state Capitol lawn.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffPair of drug raids net police 12 arrests
Police arrested 12 people Friday in separate drug raids in Waimanalo and Kalihi.A 34-year-old man was arrested in a 9:30 p.m. raid at 41-174 Nalu St. in Waimanalo. Police seized 14 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 16 grams of marijuana and $1,500 cash.
The man was booked on separate counts of promoting dangerous and detrimental drugs and being in possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was later released pending further investigation.
Eleven people, meanwhile, were arrested in a 7:06 p.m. raid on a reported drug house at 742 Bannister St. in Kalihi.
Eight were arrested for drug offenses and three on outstanding warrants.
Pacifico Cardenas, 52, who has no permanent local address, was the only one of the 11 charged.
Former guard accused of threat on officer
A former prison guard being held at the Oahu Community Correctional Center on federal drug charges was arrested yesterday for allegedly threatening an adult corrections officer.The suspect was arrested in May for possession with intent to distribute two pounds of crystal methamphetamine while employed as a Halawa Correctional Facility guard.
The man allegedly threatened a guard yesterday at 8:45 a.m. while being escorted back to his module. He was booked for first-degree terroristic threatening.
Man burned seriously in Hawaii Kai blaze
A 49-year-old Hawaii Kai man suffered serious burns from a fire late Saturday night that caused an estimated $70,000 damage to his Kawaihae Street townhouse.The man was admitted to Straub Hospital at 2:25 a.m. yesterday with burns to his face, upper chest and back and both arms, said Straub spokesman Mark Doyle. The man is listed in stable condition with first- to third-degree burns.
He reportedly jumped out of his bedroom window after finding his exit blocked by a Christmas tree fire caused by faulty lights, firefighters said.
Robber steals register from School Street bakery
A man armed with a gun and wearing a towel around his head robbed Kamehameha Bakery on North School Street yesterday and fled with a cash register containing an undisclosed amount of cash.The robbery was reported at 6:30 a.m. and none of the four people in the bakery was injured, police said. The suspect fled in a maroon car.
20-year-old accused of shooting his sister
A Kaneohe man, 20, who allegedly shot his sister in the hand and fled in her car Friday, was charged by police yesterday with attempted murder, first-degree theft, firearm offenses and auto theft.Eric Carter is being held in lieu of $145,000 bail.
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