Keliikipi’s probation stands despite violations, arrest
The ex-UH football player's guilty plea had been deferred
Former University of Hawaii running back West Keliikipi, convicted of theft, moved to the Big Island and found a job there working for one of the hotels.
However, he did not notify his probation officer, was nine months behind on restitution payments and did not report that he had been arrested for violating a restraining order against his ex-girlfriend, prosecutors said.
Despite the probation violations, Circuit Judge Richard Pollack denied the state's request yesterday to set aside Keliikipi's guilty plea to second-degree theft for his role in a $160,000 theft in 2002 from Kaiser Permanente.
"The court found he violated all four terms, but the statute gives him discretion to set aside the deferral or keep him on deferral status," said Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter.
Keliikipi was granted a deferral of his guilty plea in April 2005 for a five-year period. Pollack allowed him yesterday to continue serving out the remaining time as long as he continues fulfilling the terms and conditions.
Defense attorney Richard Wurdeman said Keliikipi has every intention of complying. Keliikipi has roughly three more years on deferral status.
"He's very focused, and him moving up to the Big Island and relocating there and not being employed right away when he got there is reason for him not paying for certain months," Wurdeman said.
He said the court considered extenuating circumstances surrounding the violations and balanced them with Keliikipi's "positive attributes."
Van Marter said Keliikipi was on the Big Island for more than a year before the probation officer learned he had left Oahu without approval. The probation officer learned of the violation after being contacted in January by Keliikipi's ex-girlfriend.
Keliikipi eventually notified one of his probation officers of his relocation to the Big Island, but it was after the fact, Wurdeman said. The probation office was preparing papers to transfer supervision of Keliikipi to the Big Island circuit.
The contact with law enforcement on the Big Island was because Keliikipi is embroiled in a contentious custody battle with his ex-girlfriend over their 3-year-old son, Wurdeman said.
Keliikipi has since moved back to Oahu and in the past week volunteered at a football camp for youths at UH.