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Inquiry continuing into 2 HPD officers convicted in Vegas


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POSTED: Thursday, May 13, 2010

Honolulu police officials said they're still conducting an internal administrative investigation related to two officers convicted of misdemeanors in Las Vegas — one of them for obstructing a public officer and another on marijuana-related charges.

; Honolulu police spokeswoman Caroline Sluyter said yesterday the two officers, Shayne Souza and Kevin Fujioka, remain suspended with pay pending the outcome of the inquiry. Sluyter said she didn't know when the investigation would be completed.

A Las Vegas justice of the peace found Fujioka, 38, guilty Tuesday of driving under the influence of marijuana and possessing less than an ounce of marijuana, Clark County Deputy District Attorney Bruce Nelson said yesterday. He was fined $580, the statutory minimum for a first conviction, Nelson said.

“;The less than an ounce is from a marijuana cigarette found in the vehicle,”; Nelson said.

Fujioka, a 13-year veteran assigned to the Pearl City station, was ordered to attend classes in the DUI program and a panel session involving victims and relatives of people killed by drivers under the influence of drugs.

Souza, 47, pleaded guilty on March 31 in Las Vegas to obstructing a public officer, a misdemeanor.

Souza, assigned to police specialized services and an officer with 20 years of service, had a misdemeanor marijuana charge against him dropped.

He completed a list of court conditions that included staying out of trouble for six months, the Clark County District Attorney's Office said yesterday.

Fujioka and Souza were in Las Vegas to participate in a softball tournament when they were arrested Aug. 15 near Desert Breeze Park, about six miles west of the Las Vegas Strip.

Park police noticed a van parked across stalls and found Souza and Fujioka in the van, according to the district attorney's office.

Souza and Fujioka got out of the van and tried to run away; Souza was pepper-sprayed, according to Clark County.

Fujioka's Nevada defense attorney, Garrett Ogata, did not return a telephone call.