23-year-old pleads guilty
in car chase across Oahu

One of two men who led police on a car chase halfway around Oahu in stolen cars before crashing one of them in Waipahu has pleaded guilty to robbery and other charges.

Brandon Ikaika Molina, 23, of Waipahu, had been charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, first-degree attempted assault on a police officer, auto theft and causing an accident involving bodily injury in the March 19, 2004, chase.

The nearly two-hour pursuit began in Aiea, passed through Waikiki, through Windward Oahu and the North Shore before ending in Waipahu, leaving at least two people injured, including a police officer.

The two men attempted to hijack two separate cars along the way and were successful in Haleiwa after terrorizing the driver of a pickup truck by smashing his windshield with a pipe.

Molina abandoned the other man in Haleiwa because he couldn't get into the stolen truck quickly enough and fled toward Waipahu, where he crashed into another truck before fleeing on foot. He was captured a short time later by police and bystanders.

Molina faces a 20-year prison term for the first-degree robberies when he is sentenced Oct. 12.

Deputy Prosecutor Darryl Miyahira will ask that Molina serve an extended term of life in prison, as well as consecutive terms based on the multiple convictions, including five other unrelated auto thefts for which he is awaiting sentencing.

Molina's attorney could not be reached for comment.