FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COMKellyn Cabral spoke to her attorney, Myles Breiner, yesterday in Circuit Court. She pleaded guilty to stealing purses at two churches and breaking into a school. CLICK FOR LARGE |
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Woman pleads guilty to purse thefts
An "ice" addiction led Kellyn Cabral to steal, her lawyer says
A 23-year-old woman pleaded guilty in Circuit Court yesterday to stealing purses at churches in Makiki and Manoa earlier this year.
Kellyn Cabral pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree burglary and second-degree theft in connection with incidents at Makiki Christian Church, St. Pius X Church and St. Francis School. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
Circuit Judge Richard Pollack granted Cabral supervised release on the condition that she heads directly to the Salvation Army Addiction Treatment Services from Oahu Community Correctional Center for drug treatment. ATS is a residential program in Nuuanu where Cabral is required to undergo drug treatment for a minimum of nine months.
She needs the help that ATS can provide for her, said her attorney, Myles Breiner, outside the courtroom.
Cabral battled an addiction to crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," for the last couple of years, Breiner said. "She was using every day. She was high every day."
Her drug use spun out of control, which led her to steal to support her drug habit, he added.
On March 2, Cabral pretended to deliver flowers during a funeral service at Makiki Christian Church, 829 Pensacola St. There she went into one of the classrooms where preschool is held and stole a bag, said Deputy Prosecutor Darrell Wong.
The following day, at St. Pius X Church, 2821 Lowrey Ave. in Manoa, she stole a purse belonging to a woman who left it behind to take Communion. A man attempted to detain her, but Cabral kicked him in the groin and fled with the bag, Wong said.
In late February, she broke into the preschool of St. Francis School, 2707 Pamoa Road, also in Manoa. Cabral was found rummaging through papers, but no items was taken, Wong said.
Police had said Cabral was a suspect in thefts that occurred at several East Honolulu churches. No arrests were made in those cases.
Wong objected to the supervised release, saying she committed the crimes over a period of five days, describing it as a crime spree.
There is a concern because of the multiplicity of the crimes, he said.
"It's only her benefit to do well in that program," Wong said outside the courtroom.
Cabral's parents, who were seated in the courtroom gallery yesterday, declined comment. Cabral has two young children -- a boy and a girl -- who are in her mother's custody.
She is struggling to deal with her drug problem, Breiner said. Cabral has no prior record.
Officials at Makiki Christian Church declined comment. Officials at St. Pius X Church could not be reached for comment.
Cabral's sentencing is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. Nov. 5. Breiner said he plans to seek probation and a deferred acceptance of the guilty plea.