Lingle accepts resignation
of embattled Paroling
Authority chairman

An investigation finds evidence
of cause for his removal, the state
attorney general says

Early release sought in fatal DUI

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By Rod Antone

rantone@starbulletin.com

A man who broke a teenager's jaw, a convicted armed robber, and a drug and firearms parolee allegedly benefited from actions by the outgoing Hawaii Paroling Authority chairman, according to an internal investigation concluded by the state Attorney General's Office.

Alfred K. Beaver Sr. turned in his letter of resignation as parole board chairman to Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday morning. He had been on paid administrative leave since Nov. 22 while the investigation was conducted.

Lingle accepted the resignation, stating in a news release that "unless he chose to resign his position, she would seek to remove him for cause, after 'due notice and public hearing.' "

"The governor made her decision based on results of the investigation, which we believe provided evidence of cause," said Attorney General Mark Bennett. "The governor has decided that she will not comment further on the reason for her decision."

Beaver's attorney, Paul Cunney, said three incidents cast a shadow over Beaver's otherwise stellar career.

However, Cunney emphasized that none of the incidents involved Beaver receiving money in exchange for a decision on a prisoner or parolee.

"This isn't a case of corruption or bribes, nothing like that," Cunney said. "It all boils down to a hint or appearance of impropriety. Al's always been a straight shooter, in my book."

The incidents reviewed by the Attorney General's Office include:

>> In 2000, Beaver reduced the minimum sentence for Jonnaven Monalim to three years from five. Monalim was convicted in 1998 of fracturing the jaw of a 17-year-old male.

>> In April, Beaver granted an early discharge from parole to Gegham "Gary" Akopian, who had been convicted on drug and firearms convictions. Akopian was supposed to have been on parole until August 2009.

>> Last fall, Beaver attempted to commute the sentence for Gary Wilderman, who was convicted of armed robbery in 2001 and is serving 20 years in prison. Because there is no form to fill out to commute a sentence, Beaver took a pardon form and crossed out the word "pardons" and wrote "commutations" instead, to forward to the governor.

In the Akopian case, Cunney said, Beaver was misled by a parole officer who "stabbed him in the back" because she did not relay information about Akopian's other crimes in California that would have affected Beaver's decision to discharge him.

In the other cases, Cunney said Beaver was merely trying to do his job.

"In the Wilderman case, there was no procedure in place for commutations," Cunney said. "So Beaver took the direct route ... he used a pardon form and crossed it out and wrote commutations.

"We could have fought this ... but the integrity of the parole authority is the first thing on his mind and he didn't want the whole system to be scrutinized."

Cunney said that following Beaver's resignation there will be no criminal prosecution sought by the state.

Beaver was appointed as Paroling Authority chairman in 1998 after serving as interim chairman when then-Chairman Claudio Suyat resigned six months early in 1997.

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Department of Public Safety
Attorney General