Driver gets 6 months for threats to jogger

He will serve the time on weekends as a condition of his probation

A motorist who admitted he attempted to run over a jogger in Kahala after the two exchanged words over a traffic incident was sentenced to six months in prison, to be served on weekends beginning this Friday.

Circuit Judge Richard Pollack rejected Gabriel Kealoha's request Monday to defer his guilty plea to two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening and instead sentenced him to probation, with jail as a condition.

Kealoha, 27, admitted earlier this year that he used his SUV to drive at the jogger twice last November to scare him and "to get my last word."

Kealoha, who sought anger-management treatment shortly after the incident and continues to participate in psychotherapy programs, took full responsibility for his behavior and apologized to the court, said defense attorney Brook Hart.

"He feels he's been given an opportunity to do the right thing and is committed to doing right in his life."

Prosecutors could not be reached for comment. But at Kealoha's change of plea in July, Deputy Prosecutor Kevin Takata indicated the state would oppose a request for deferral, noting that his behavior in this case was similar to a road-rage incident he was involved in 10 years ago.

Kealoha was found guilty of recklessly causing the death of off-duty HPD officer Arthur Miller in October 1996.

The intoxicated Miller had pulled over Kealoha on the H-1. There was a struggle and Miller went over the viaduct. Kealoha was sent to the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility until age 19.

Hart said it was fortunate no one was injured in the November incident. "It was an important turning point for Gabe in his life and made him focus on issues to become a productive member of the community," he said. "He's made a real change in his life."

Kealoha is now working and runs a business called Pampered Fish that services commercial and residential fish tanks, Hart said.