Kauai man gets 25 years for meth and heroin possession
LIHUE » A Hanalei man who led police on at least two chases, accidentally ran over a woman and was caught with more than an ounce of methamphetamine received a 25-year prison sentence yesterday.
Byron Say, 38, had been arrested at least four times over the past two years for drug and driving-related offenses. He also led police on a chase in January, when he escaped via mo-ped and then jumped into heavy brush.
Say's lawyers said their client is the victim of drug addiction.
But Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe said Say has refused to abide by the conditions of supervised release, parole and his drug rehabilitation.
While prosecutors had asked for all sentences to run together, Watanabe, citing Say's prior criminal record, gave him a 20-year sentence for possession of the ounce of methamphetamine, and an additional five years for possession of heroin on another occasion.
Say pleaded guilty April 10 to the two charges as part of a plea deal. He had faced numerous other charges, such as tampering with evidence, bail jumping and contempt, for his evasions of police, as well as other drug charges.
Say had already pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of drugs for the accident in 2005. Say, high on methamphetamine and heroin, crashed a rental car into the back of a motorcycle driven by Steve Wheeler. Wheeler's passenger, Lisa Wilson, was thrown from the bike and run over by Say before he had a chance to stop.