Marijuana prosecution
nets Hilo tennis coach

A federal jury convicts the former
UH worker of growing 65 plants

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Star-Bulletin staff and news services

A federal court jury convicted a former University of Hawaii-Hilo tennis coach yesterday of growing 65 marijuana plants in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Laron Kevin Kortgaard faces up to 30 years in prison because of a 1994 conviction for heroin importation into Hawaii, according to the U.S. attorney.

Sentencing will be Sept. 30 before U.S. District Judge Alan Kay.

National Park rangers discovered Kortgaard's marijuana operation Dec. 27 off the Mauna Loa Strip Road.

Rangers set up a surveillance system around the marijuana patch using electronic sensors and remote video cameras and arrested Kortgaard on March 15.

Rangers observed Kortgaard at the patch on numerous occasions during the three months prior to his arrest.

Besides the marijuana sentence, Kortgaard's supervised release for the heroin conviction will end, and he could be sentenced to five years in addition to the marijuana sentence.

Kortgaard, who was hired at UH-Hilo a year ago on a part-time basis, was fired from his job in April.

Because he was a part-time, "casual-hire" in February 2001, he was not asked whether he had any prior convictions.

University officials have said they will review the hiring policy based on Kortgaard's arrest.