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Are state laws The arrest of Steven Hauge, who has a lengthy conviction record, as a suspect in the death of a Canadian tourist is prompting a key lawmaker to take another look at whether state laws are strict enough.
too lax, lawmaker
wonders
A murder suspect's robbery
arrest raises sentencing and
drug treatment issuesBy Debra Barayuga
Star-BulletinMeanwhile, District Judge Tenney Tongg yesterday found there was sufficient cause for Hauge to face trial in Circuit Court for the Jan. 22 robbery and kidnapping of a 24-year-old Waikiki man.
While Hauge has not been charged, police say he is a suspect in the Jan. 23 robbery of Norman Chaplan, 81, at the Ohana Waikiki West. Chaplan was bludgeoned in the head with a rock and died of injuries two days later.
Hauge had 45 convictions dating back to 1977. Nine were felonies.
Except for a second-degree assault in 1990 and first-degree terroristic threatening in 1994, the remaining felonies were for nonviolent credit card and forgery offenses that occurred in 1978.
The latest felony was a terroristic threatening conviction in April 1995 for which he was given a five-year prison term, with a mandatory minimum of 20 months for being a repeat offender.
He was released on parole in July 1996 but returned to custody on March 10, 1997, for parole violations. He was ordered to serve the remainder of the five years, which expired Oct. 22, 1999. He sought parole before then but was denied.
"He's done his full maximum," said Max Otani, Paroling Authority administrator.
According to parole officials, Hauge's parole was revoked because he failed to follow his parole officer's instructions and report as necessary, consumed alcohol and possessed cocaine.
Previous parole violations in 1994 and 1993 also involved drug use, specifically cocaine.
Hauge was believed to have been offered drug treatment since his parole violations did include failure to complete treatment, Otani said.
Since his release in October 1999, Hauge seemed to stay out of trouble until last June, when he was arrested for fourth-degree theft and sentenced to 12 hours' confinement. He was again arrested for third-degree theft on July 14 and sentenced to a day in jail.
Sen. Brian Kanno, chairman of Senate Judiciary committee, said yesterday that he will look into Hauge's case and see whether judges had discretion to grant stricter sentences, given his previous criminal history, or whether prison overcrowding was an issue.
Kanno said there apparently are no bills this session that require stiff penalties for habitual offenders. In the past, such bills have not passed, he said.
This session, Kanno said, he will look at the availability of services and funding to provide drug treatment for defendants who are incarcerated or out on parole.
Illicit drug use makes up at least 50 percent of parole violations, Otani said.
When parolees abscond and stop reporting to their parole officers, drug use is usually suspected.
Kanno introduced a bill this session that requires all nonviolent drug offense cases to be handled by an expanded drug court. The Oahu drug court only takes defendants who meet specific qualifications and who volunteer to participate.
Similarly, the governor in his State of the State address has proposed mandatory drug treatment for first-time nonviolent drug offenders.
Meanwhile, the state Judiciary is looking to expand the Oahu and Maui drug courts to the Big Island and Kauai, and is asking for money to match federal funding, monies for purchase of services and positions.
The question is whether there are the capacity and resources to provide needed drug treatment for all who need it, Kanno said.
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