Pauline sentence
brings praise from
victim’s father

Frank Pauline Jr. must
serve a minimum of 180 years

Star-Bulletin

HILO -- John Ireland, father of 1991 murder victim Dana Ireland, said he was nearly speechless when he heard that the man convicted of the crime was to spend a minimum of 180 years in prison.

The minimum term that the Hawaii Paroling Authority determined Frank Pauline Jr. must serve before being eligible for parole was officially made public today.

"I'm not a vindictive person," Ireland said. "But for the safety of other people, this guy has to be locked up for the rest of his life."

Pauline was convicted last year of murder, sexual assault and kidnapping in the 1991 case. Judge Riki May Amano sentenced him to a maximum of three life terms.

The paroling authority on Friday set 90-year minimums for each of those terms. Two of the 90-year terms would be served at the same time, with the third one to follow.

The sentence was not officially made public until today so Pauline could be personally notified at Halawa prison.

"I was surprised," Ireland said of the sentence. "I said, 'Geez, I hope he's celebrating his 180 years of free room and board.' "

Pauline was one of at least three people allegedly involved in the attack in which Dana Ireland, 23, was hit by a car, kidnapped, raped and left to bleed to death on a rural fishing trail.

Brothers Ian and Shawn Schweitzer remain to be tried in the case. Ian Schweitzer's trial is to start Jan. 24.

John Ireland said he and his wife, Louise, will fly from their Virginia home for the trial.

Dana Ireland Archive