WAILUKU >> A retired state wildlife manager and his son were fined $1,000 each and ordered to perform community service for a helicopter landing on state forest land during a fishing trip on Molokai. Former wildlife chief,
son are fined $2,000By Gary T. Kubota
Star-BulletinWesley Wong Jr., 61, former Maui District manager for the state Forestry and Wildlife Division, was found guilty of the misdemeanor charge earlier this year.
During the same trial, a Maui Circuit Court jury found Wong not guilty of fishing with an electrical device in the remote Wailau Stream on May 7, 1999.
Wong retired from the state in December 1999.
The maximum penalty for an illegal helicopter landing is one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
In imposing the sentence yesterday, Maui Circuit Judge Shackley Raffetto said he was taking into consideration that Wong had no prior criminal record and had contributed much in public service to the community, including volunteer work with the Boy Scouts of America.
Raffetto said Molokai has had problems with people disregarding the law and he was aware many on Molokai were watching the outcome of this case. The judge said when people in authority break the rules, everybody loses respect for the system of laws.
"You knew what the rules were," Raffetto said. "I'm hoping you learned from the humiliation."
Wong declined to say anything at his sentencing.
Raffetto ordered Wong to perform 75 hours of community service and his son, Matthew, 50 hours.
Matthew Wong, an employee with the U.S. Geological Survey, pleaded guilty to the illegal helicopter landing, in return for the prosecution's dismissing the charge of using an illegal fishing device.
Raffetto decided to defer the acceptance of Matthew Wong's guilty plea, leaving open the possibility he may have his misdemeanor conviction removed from court records, if he fulfills the terms of his sentencing.
Maui County
