Former City Councilwoman Rene Mansho was released from prison on a 10-hour furlough on Christmas and again on New Year's Day, state prison officials said. Mansho furloughed on
Christmas, New Year’s
Star-Bulletin staffMansho, 53, has been locked up at the Women's Correctional Center in Kailua since June 26. She was sentenced to one year in jail and five years probation for her conviction on felony theft charges.
Warden John Kellam said Mansho was eligible for furlough because of her short sentence and because she's a nonviolent offender with no criminal history.
"She has never had any misconducts or difficulties with us in her adjustment," he said. "She's done positive things. She's worked, she's taken every assignment that we've given to her."
Kellam said Mansho is not getting any special treatment.
"She's not getting anything that her counterparts are not getting in the facility. No more. No less," he said.
Mansho lives in a dorm-style unit and works on the a gardening detail, earning 25 cents an hour. She also helps at the prison's learning center.
Mansho resigned from the council on April 10, 2002, the same day prosecutors were to present their case against her to an Oahu grand jury.
A city Ethics Commission investigation conducted while Mansho was in office concluded she misused $148,000 of city funds by having her staff perform Aloha Boat Days work, campaign tasks and other non-city functions.