Pair who terrorized
gay campers get
5 years in prison

The judge considered their age
in handing down the sentence

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By Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.com

LIHUE >> Two Kauai men who pleaded guilty to a series of felony charges and admitted terrorizing a group of gay campers at Polihale State Park were sentenced yesterday to five years in prison.

Eamonn Carolan, 19, and Orion Macomber, 18, pleaded guilty in November to a series of charges ranging from assault to criminal property damage in exchange for Kauai prosecutors dropping attempted-murder charges, which carry mandatory life sentences.

The men and their girlfriends were camping last Memorial Day weekend at Polihale. They admitted they initially went to the neighboring campsite to steal beer but at some point decided to terrorize the campers.

No one was injured in the incident. The mosquito netting on one tent was burned and another tent singed by overturned tiki lamps. Police found the pair sleeping at their own campground shortly afterward.

Circuit Judge Clifford Nakea said yesterday he believes the chances of the two committing another crime are "nil." Neither has a record of violence.

"My concern is the impact on the victims in the case," Nakea said.

He noted that none of the victims wished to speak at the sentencing hearing but had sent him letters.

"I don't sense a grudge on the part of the victims. Some expressed regret and concern for you that at such a young age you could harbor animosity toward them.

"I don't sense that they want to hang you, but I do sense they are afraid of you," Nakea said.

Several of the victims were in court but declined to be interviewed.

Pre-sentence reports on both men, who have been lifelong friends and who both come from wealthy families, said both had lengthy histories of alcohol and drug abuse.

Nakea said he decided to take advantage of a youthful-offender sentencing option that allowed him to hand out sentences half as long as older offenders would have received.

Their parole eligibility will be determined by the state Department of Public Safety.