HILO >> A Big Island man who pleaded guilty to committing a rash of burglaries last year along the Hamakua Coast has been sentenced to 125 years in prison after failing to honor the terms of a plea agreement by skipping his initial sentencing last month. Burglar gets 125 years
after missing court dateAssociated Press
Paulino Evangelista, 27, pleaded guilty last fall to 12 counts of burglary under a plea agreement in which prosecutors agreed to drop another charge in exchange for his cooperation in helping solve other burglaries. Under the agreement, prosecutors also agreed to recommend he serve the sentences for the 12 burglaries at the same time.
Evangelista was also allowed to ask to serve any sentences on additional burglary and theft charges at the same time as the other counts. He later pleaded guilty to two more burglaries and a theft.
"He probably would have got 10 years' incarceration," said Deputy Prosecutor Mitchell Roth, who handled the case.
Evangelista, who was free on $3,000 bail, was also required to show up for all court appearances.
When he missed his sentencing on Jan. 16, the agreement was off.
On Tuesday, Roth asked Circuit Judge Riki May Amano to revoke Evangelista's bail and sentence him for the 15 felonies. Amano ordered Evangelista to serve consecutive terms, for a total of 125 years, and pay nearly $17,000 in restitution.
Evangelista was accused of breaking into homes in March and April in Ookala, Honokaa, Ninole, Laupahoehoe, the Puualaea subdivision, Milo Street, Kukui Village Road, Mamalahoa Highway and Kaieie Homestead Road.