Kalapana’s
Feary struggles to
stay on the wagon

With a series of concerts coming,
the popular entertainer has
'one last chance' to complete
a program to treat his
'ice' addiction

By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

Entertainer Mackey Feary is finding out the hard way that recovering from a drug addiction is turning out to be like the title of one of his Kalapana songs: "Lost Again."

"To remain clean and sober is a long trek," Feary's lawyer William Harrison said. "He has had some problems falling off the wagon."

Feary, 43, appeared in Circuit Court yesterday on a motion by prosecutors to revoke his probation after he tested positive for crystal methamphetamine or "ice" use.

Feary, who has a history of using crystal methamphetamine, pleaded guilty last year to criminal property damage and two drug offenses for smashing his wife's car window in the parking lot of a Waimalu shopping center and possessing crystal methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia on Sept. 4, 1996.

Feary received five years probation and had to serve six months out of a year in jail. He had faced 10 years in prison.

After serving the six months in jail, Feary entered Victory Ohana, a nonprofit Christian organization which helps former inmates lead productive lives.

A few months after entering the program, Feary vowed not to stray.

Feary completed the inpatient portion and was taking part in the outpatient phase when he tested positive for drug use, his lawyer said.

Because the program is strict, Feary was kicked out before he was clinically discharged, Harrison said.

Prosecutors said the positive drug test and dismissal from the program are grounds for Feary's probation to be revoked, Harrison said.

Feary then entered the 30-day Salvation Army Adult Treatment Services residential program two weeks ago.

Harrison said this shows that Feary is serious about getting help despite his setback.

"We need to have him complete the program," Harrison said.

Because Feary entered the program, his probation officer recommended that the revocation hearing be continued for 90 days to allow Feary to complete the program. A new hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 28.

Deputy Prosecutor Maurice Arrisgado said he argued against the hearing being postponed.

"He should be subject to revocation," Arrisgado said. "But the court agreed with the probation officer and gave him one last chance, and if he doesn't complete the program, the court said he would be walking out the side door (where inmates exit) instead of the front door."

Harrison said that because Feary has to remain in the program 24 hours a day, it could affect a series of upcoming Kalapana concerts.

But concert promoter Bob Peyton said as far as he knows, Feary will be part of a 25th-anniversary series of Kalapana concerts on Oahu, the Big Island, Maui and Kauai, with the first being Nov. 8 at the Waikiki Shell.