Pauline had
long history of
trouble with lawHis first brush with authorities
By Dana Williams
occurred when he was only 9 years old
Star-BulletinHILO -- He testified that he was a liar, and his attorney called him a "punk."
His girlfriend said he traded her engagement ring for drugs.
He told police he hit Dana Ireland with a tire iron, "To make sure I killed her."
With a police record dating back to when he was 9 years old, Frank Pauline Jr. has a long history of being in trouble with the law.
Since 1994 he's been serving a 10-year-sentence for sexual assault, robbery and criminal trespass.
He goes to trial in November in another sexual assault case, and he will be sentenced for the Ireland murder in October.
During his recent trial, Pauline was clean-cut, trim and well-groomed. He looked more like a young businessman than a murder defendant.
His mother, Patricia Pauline, said the long-sleeved dress shirts and ties he wore to court belonged to his attorney. She said she couldn't afford to buy him clothes appropriate for court appearances
Pauline, 26, completed 10th grade at Pahoa High School.
He was marginally employed before going to prison, and said once he started serving his sentence at Halawa, his drug debts mounted. Soon, he said, he was being threatened by other inmates.
At the same time, some of his family members were involved in a drug conspiracy case.
John Gonsalves, his older brother, told police Pauline had information about the Ireland murder case. Within weeks, Pauline had made a formal statement to police admitting his involvement.
During his trial, he said he made the statement so police would move him out of Halawa prison, and so prosecutors would go easy on his brother.
Patricia Pauline said Frank called her the day before the verdict to say he didn't think he would be acquitted.
"So he said, 'Ma, maybe this goodbye.' He going kill himself or somebody going kill him if he go back to Halawa," she said.
Star-Bulletin writer Cynthia Oi
contributed to this report.
Dana Ireland Archive
Trial witnesses summary
