Company owner pleads no contest in tax case
The owner of a jewelry company pleaded no contest Monday for failing to file the company's annual general excise tax returns for calendar years 1998 and 1999.District Judge Russel S. Nagata granted a request by Vincent F. Sage, owner of Sage Diamond Co., to defer his plea but ordered him to pay a fine of $12,000 and perform 300 hours of community service.
Sage is also the owner of The Diamond Co. He is expected to enter a plea at a later date on charges both corporations failed to file its annual general excise tax returns.
The Diamond Co. had not filed its returns for fiscal years ending March 31, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
The Sage Diamond Co. had not filed its returns for calendar years 1997, 1998 and 1999, according to the state Tax Department.
Man pleads guilty in traffic death of woman
A man scheduled to stand trial this week for negligent homicide in connection with a traffic death two years ago pleaded guilty yesterday to a lesser charge.Richard Malone, 24, was charged with second-degree negligent homicide for causing the death of Sally Nakamura, 74, in Kaimuki on March 24, 2000. Nakamura was in a crosswalk at Koko Head and Mahina avenues when she was struck by a sport utility vehicle driven by Malone.
Second-degree negligent homicide is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both. Malone pleaded guilty to third-degree negligent homicide yesterday, which is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison, a $2,000 fine or both.
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>> President Bush's nomination of Richard R. Clifton of Honolulu to a seat on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was confirmed by the Senate last month. An editorial Monday incorrectly said the nomination was awaiting Senate confirmation. Corrections and clarifications
>> Shizuya Hiyashi was the veteran shown in the food line at the Legacy Picnic in a photo on Page C7 Monday. The caption incorrectly identified him as Robert Aoki.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
WINDWARD OAHU
Correctional officers accused of sex abuse
The state Department of Attorney General and Honolulu police are investigating reports that male correctional officers sexually assaulted girls confined at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility in Kailua.The state turned the case over to investigators when administrators heard of the allegations at the end of May, said Bert Matsuoka, Office of Youth Services Executive Director. There were three allegations of sexual abuse against three male correctional officers. The officers were immediately transferred to the boys' cottages, he said.
Matsuoka said one of the reports was determined to be unfounded, the other two are under investigation. None of the reports came from the alleged victims, but from third parties, he said.
LEEWARD OAHU
Pearl City police catch 2 escaped inmates
Pearl City police yesterday caught two prison inmates who escaped from the Waiawa Correctional Facility last week.Jack Masaniai was arrested in Pearl City at around 8:30 p.m. Police also arrested one of Masaniai's family members for allegedly hindering prosecution.
Earlier yesterday, police arrested Milton Kapule near a Pearl City McDonald's restaurant. Police said Kapule was then taken to an area hospital, where he was treated for injuries sustained prior to the arrest.
Both Masaniai and Kapule had been discovered missing from the Waiawa Correctional Facility on Aug. 13.
Masaniai, 22, was serving a sentence for felony assault and violating a protective order. Kapule, 25, has 15 felony convictions and was serving time for robberies, burglaries, auto theft and kidnappings.
A third inmate, Kristopher Kealoha, 26, was arrested over the weekend after escaping from Waiawa on Aug. 10. Kealoha was serving time for terroristic threatening, auto theft and robbery.
