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Guard who let
By Debra Barayuga
inmate escape
gets probation
Star-BulletinA former prison guard was sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty to charges he allowed an inmate to escape twice so the inmate could obtain drugs for another prison guard.
But Steven McGuine yesterday maintained his innocence, saying he pleaded guilty under a plea agreement because he took responsibility as a supervisor for what happened under his watch.
"I pleaded guilty for a deal, not because I'm guilty," McGuine said. "I maintain my innocence."
Deputy Attorney General Dwight Nadamoto had asked the judge to sentence McGuine to five years each for bribery, hindering prosecution, two counts of being an accomplice to escape and 10 years for attempted promotion of dangerous drugs.
The state contends McGuine allowed inmate Norman Carlos to leave on two occasions in July 1998 in exchange for money and to help prison guard Jason Pang obtain methamphetamine to sell to inmates.
Nadamoto argued that McGuine, as a sergeant, "betrayed the trust placed in him by the state" and although nothing bad happened while the inmate was out, the potential was always there.
Circuit Judge Wilfred Watanabe also ordered McGuine to serve 200 hours of community service.
Deputy public defender Debra Loy had sought probation for McGuine, a 17-year employee with the Department of Public Safety, saying he was a good employee who was the target of a "setup that didn't work all the way."
The case against McGuine was based on information by "two people who admitted to criminal activity," Loy said.
"Steven McGuine had nothing to do with Jason Pang and Norman Carlos' activities outside."
She said McGuine agreed to the plea agreement because he didn't want to risk a mandatory sentence for the drug charge.
Pang was sentenced earlier this month to five years in prison on similar charges.
