Killing suspect The prime suspect in the death of an 81-year-old Canadian tourist in a Waikiki hotel restroom last year was sentenced to an extended term of 20 years for burglarizing a nearby hotel room six hours later.
gets extended term
The man, who has 104 arrests,
gets 20 years for a burglaryBy Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.comSteven Hauge had faced a 10-year term for the Jan. 23, 2001, break-in at the Ocean Resort Hotel Waikiki after a jury convicted him as charged last month.
However, Circuit Judge Marie Milks granted the state's request yesterday for an extended term because he qualifies as a "persistent offender" -- meaning he has had at least three prior felony convictions since he turned 18 -- and after she ruled that he is a danger to society.
Hauge, who goes by 20 aliases and uses 10 different birth dates and assorted Social Security numbers, has been arrested 104 times -- nearly half of those in Hawaii, according to Deputy Prosecutor Russell Uehara.
He has nine felony convictions and 46 misdemeanor felony convictions that occurred as far back as 1976. Hauge has logged convictions in Manhattan Beach, Calif., San Diego, Seattle and Texas.
Uehara argued the 20-year term was necessary for the protection of the public.
"His only gainful employment is committing crimes," he said.
Hauge opposed the 20-year term, saying he has already paid for his past crimes by serving close to 10 years in prison. He argued that his last felony conviction occurred more than 13 years ago and that the three felonies he was being penalized for were not for violent crimes.
"For me to be given 20 years for two shirts and a VCR, I don't think I deserve that," he said.
Milks disputed his argument, saying he had a history of violence that included a hit-and-run for which he served time at San Quentin, an assault in Texas, and had a sock filled with batteries when he was arrested for scuffling with a prison guard.
In the burglary for which he was sentenced yesterday, Hauge entered what he claimed to be an unlocked hotel room at the Ocean Resort Hotel Waikiki occupied by an Ohio couple. The couple had packed their bags because they were to leave for Kauai that day, but first went to breakfast.
Hauge used a shard from a water glass that he had broken to slash open their suitcases and remove $400 cash, a video camcorder and two Hard Rock T-shirts.
He also cut himself and left bloodstains on some clothing in the suitcases. DNA tests on the blood matched that of Hauge's, Uehara said.
Near the suitcases, police found a rock wrapped in a towel in a plastic bag -- which apparently was part of Hauge's modus operandi, Uehara said.
The break-in occurred six hours after Norman Chaplan was bludgeoned in the head with a rock in the lobby restroom of the Ohana Waikiki West hotel and robbed of his wallet. Chaplan, of Ontario, had just checked into the hotel with his group. He died two days later.
In the bathroom stall where Chaplan was found, police found a bloodied rock wrapped in a towel in a white plastic bag.
Hauge was arrested the next day about a block from the Ohana hotel.
In his possession, according to prosecutors, was a piece of hollow tile wrapped in a towel in a plastic bag. He claimed he used the tile to weigh down leaflets he passed out in Waikiki.
While Hauge is yet to be charged in Chaplan's attack, Uehara said Hauge is the "prime and only suspect."
He was caught on hotel security cameras as following Chaplan into the secured restroom accessible only by a card key. When Hauge was arrested, police found on him card keys for both the Ohana Waikiki where Chaplan was attacked and the Ocean Resort where the break-in occurred.
Uehara said they have enough evidence to establish probable cause that Hauge is responsible for Chaplan's attack but are still hoping someone will provide more information.